Many commentators in the tech world are championing a Universal Basic Income (UBI) due to growing concerns about employment and automation. Mark Zuckerberg recently made it a focus of his Harvard University commencement speech, calling for a new focus in society and economics. Trials have commenced in a number of European countries to measure the impact of UBI, and Switzerland voted on a UBI plan a year ago. The question remains however, is an income guarantee a good idea? Will automation necessitate such a measure? We discuss on this weeks episode!

 

Links:

Will AI Cause Mass Unemployment?

Policy Basics: Where do Our Federal Tax Dollars Go?

BLS Data: US productivity change in the nonfarm business sector

An Aging World: 2015

Swiss Unemployment Rate (other countries listed at the bottom of the page)