Universal basic income

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Universal basic income (UBI) is a policy that guarantees a regular income to all citizens. Discussion about UBI has expanded in recent years due to the threat that automation poses to the capitalist wage system. Some proposals would give a set amount of money to everyone below a certain income, and others would give varying amounts based on how poor they are.

Criticism

From the left

The bourgeoisie has promoted UBI in order to prevent a socialist revolution and redistribution of economic power into the hands of a proletarian state. Instead of creating laws guaranteeing access to education, food, housing, and health care, the bourgeois state would give workers money to buy it.

From the right

Right-wing economists claim that UBI would discourage workers from working harder, which falsely assumes that harder work corresponds to higher pay. The most difficult jobs are actually paid the least under the current system.

See also

• Utopianism
• Social democracy
• Labor aristocracy