sure actually giving everyone 10k a year is going to cost too much. But I don't think anyone who is sane is actually proposing that.
At the moment, the poor get a mismash of benifits that all require administration.
replacing that with a single means tested universal income is far simpler.
for example:
every house hold is entitled to 10K, if you only earn 5k, you get a top up to 10k. This is no more costly that what already exisits in the UK (housing benefit, out of work, DLA, working tax credits) but is a magnitude more easy to administrate.
You get the added bonus of abolishing pensions that cost uber cash to maintain.
I think the economist is deliberately grasping at the wrong straws. Either that or the Swiss are batshit insane.
You're correct in that it can replace a mish-mash of benefits, but incorrect to suggest topping up to a set limit. Rather they should get a set amount and then we can let wages fall to levels that would be unviable if the basic income wasn't in place.
At the moment, the poor get a mismash of benifits that all require administration.
replacing that with a single means tested universal income is far simpler.
for example:
every house hold is entitled to 10K, if you only earn 5k, you get a top up to 10k. This is no more costly that what already exisits in the UK (housing benefit, out of work, DLA, working tax credits) but is a magnitude more easy to administrate.
You get the added bonus of abolishing pensions that cost uber cash to maintain.
I think the economist is deliberately grasping at the wrong straws. Either that or the Swiss are batshit insane.