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> [...] increasing the supply of low cost housing dramatically? They are pretty much prerequisites for UBI. Yes, I'm sort of surprised that fixing housing cost
by paulgb 7y ago
> [...] increasing the supply of low cost housing dramatically? They are pretty much prerequisites for UBI.
Yes, I'm sort of surprised that fixing housing costs is not the first priority of people who want UBI ASAP. As I see it, if you don't start adding supply to the housing market quickly, a UBI would actually become a regressive policy where a tax on consumption (VAT) is effectively transferred to land owners. On the intended effect of reducing inequality, it might be counterproductive.
- falcolas 7y agoSupply exists. Surplus exists. It’s just reserved for the wealthy, since homebuilders can make more profit off one luxury home than a hundred affordable homes, even if they have to leave the luxury home vacant for years before finding a buyer.
- paulgb 7y agoSuddenly having an extra $1k/month isn't going to bump many people into the bracket where the can suddenly afford the luxury housing, though. It goes back to the housing supply needing to be fixed, UBI itself does not fix it.
- Ididntdothis 7y ago“a UBI would actually become a regressive policy where a tax on consumption (VAT) is effectively transferred to land owners.” Since UBI is mainly pushed by wealthy people I wouldn’t be surprised if this was intended.