Basic Income and Social Democratic Policies

Abstract Economic insecurity is an endemic problem across the rich countries of the Global North. What is the solution? This paper compares and contrasts two major proposals: the conventional welfare state package of public services and regulations versus a basic income. By comparing and contrasting these systems in three different contexts – a “nightwatchman” context, a neoliberal context, and a social democratic context – and carefully modeling the monetary equivalence between them, we are able to provide a more precise and compelling comparison of the two systems than has yet been accomplished. We evaluate the two systems on the basis of economic security as well as a number of other important criteria, including the economic well-being of oppressed groups, power, carbon emissions, the gender division of labor, free time, social stigma, and transformative potential. We find that without a welfare state background, services and regulations are generally preferable for most vulnerable groups. However, as the welfare state develops, into a neoliberal or a social democratic context, basic income becomes a generally superior option.

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Why Not a Basic Income?

Social Democratic Capitalism ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190064112.003.0005 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 113-118

Author(s):

Lane Kenworthy

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Social Programs ◽

Basic Income ◽

Public Insurance ◽

Tax Base ◽

Social Democratic ◽

Democratic Capitalism ◽

Percentage Points ◽

The Moment ◽

Political Divide

Abstract: I don’t think a basic income grant is a good idea for the world’s rich democratic nations at the moment. The likely reduction in employment produced by a basic income—perhaps 15 percentage points—could make it difficult to ensure a tax base large enough to pay for generous social programs and government’s other functions, and it might lead to a polarizing political divide. A basic income very likely would have to replace some existing public insurance programs, and in doing so it would reduce our ability to allocate resources according to differing needs and circumstances. Most important, we know social democratic capitalism yields very good outcomes, whereas basic income’s effects are uncertain. If and when modern societies get to a point where artificial intelligence is producing widespread joblessness, we probably will have no alternative to a basic income. But today we do, and that alternative is an attractive one.

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Social Democrats II

Just Property ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198787105.003.0007 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 138-171

Author(s):

Christopher Pierson

Keyword(s):

Basic Income ◽

Market Socialism ◽

Third Way ◽

Social Democrats ◽

Social Democratic ◽

Political Force ◽

Basic Capital ◽

Wage Earners

This chapter continues the evaluation of ideas about property amongst social democrats in the period after 1945. It explores how in the period between 1945 and 1975, social democrats came to de-emphasize the importance of ownership as a political force (my exemplar is Britain). In the second half of the chapter, I turn to social democratic responses when this orientation faltered (after 1975). Of particular interest here is the experience of Swedish social democrats and their initiative for Wage-Earners’ Funds. After a brief consideration of ideas surrounding a ‘Third Way’, I complete my survey with an assessment of a number of recent property alternatives generated by social democrats. These include asset-based egalitarianism, predistribution, basic capital and basic income, property-owning democracy, and market socialism. The most important thinkers discussed here are Durbin, Crosland, Marshall, Childs, Karelby, Adler-Karlsson, Meidner, White, Hacker, Van Parijs, Meade, and Nove.

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Basic income: A social democratic perspective

Global Social Policy ◽

10.1177/1468018116679323 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 101-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrew Jackson

Keyword(s):

Basic Income ◽

Social Democratic

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Basic income will prove difficult to adopt globally

Emerald Expert Briefings ◽

10.1108/oxan-db212200 ◽

2016 ◽

Keyword(s):

Developed Countries ◽

Basic Income ◽

Content Type ◽

Young Voters ◽

Welfare Policies ◽

Social Democratic ◽

Long Run ◽

Democratic Parties ◽

Social Democratic Parties ◽

Leftist Parties

Subject Implementation of an universal basic income. Significance Calls for the adoption of a universal basic income (UBI) as an alternative to welfare programmes have increased in recent years, as a way to reduce bureaucracy and guarantee minimum resources at a time when jobs are scarce. The adoption of this kind of intervention faces significant political and financial obstacles. Impacts Different positions on UBI between social democratic parties and more radical leftist parties could intensify and shape electoral debates. The preferences of young voters, who are struggling to secure good jobs, will prove key to future welfare policies. The expansion of UBI could contribute to the redefinition of work in developed countries in the long run.

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