Universal basic income (UBI) has supporters across the political spectrum. The idea is that if every citizen received a payment from the state to cover their living costs, it this will allow them the freedom to live as they choose.
But voters who turned down a UBI pilot in a recent referendum in the German city of Hamburg apparently found something to dislike. A frequent argument against UBI is that recipients will decide to work less. This in turn will make labour (and consequently labour-intensive products) more expensive.
Indeed, a recent study on a UBI experiment has found that recipients of an unconditional monthly transfer of US$1,000 (£760) were significantly less likely to work. And if they did work, they put in fewer hours than a control group who received only US$50 per month.
They say “people will work less” like it’s a bad thing.
It’s bad for our masters
they do specifically say because that will lead to increasing costs of goods. A valid concern I think when cost of living is on the rise.
“oh, some of us should starve so that the stuff I buy at Kroger is cheaper” is an indefensible position, even if wages and marker prices were strongly correlated. Which they aren’t