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Weight loss is more than calories in and calories out. Research using a pool of 10,000 participants. People tend to gain weight back. Differ...
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We were in Edmonton so I took the opportunity to visit the Microsoft Store, check out the Go and finally purchased it. I knew there was a ... -
Have you checked out your google info? Now much clearer! https://www.androidcentral.com/google-account-page-android-updated-new-ui-and-featu...
I would argue that when you put in a GBI, you remove the minimum wage completely. Before you react to that, consider the implications. Right now people take low paying jobs because they have to have some type of job to live. Even jobs that suck, which no one wants to do, but which need to happen, can pay low wages because the people taking them don't have options. On the other hand, nicer jobs that some people enjoy working might pay the same amount. Getting rid of the minimum wage and putting in a GBI that makes it possible to live without a job forces employers to pay what a job is really worth. So the cushy jobs that people actually enjoy doing and which don't require many skills could actually pay a small amount. People would do them anyway. However, the jobs the people don't like doing would have to pay real money to get people to work them. So anyone willing to do a "dirty job" probably sees a pay raise in addition to the GBI.
ReplyDeleteI agree with GBI in theory. People could work at what they want for however long they want; especially important with the types of work likely to be available. GBI could shift production of food so people are available to work small plots and allow people to be more creative.
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion is an interim step because there is such a stigma, especially in the US, about not working to support yourself. GBI would have to be funded somehow - although central banks seem ok with printing money to bail out banks, they aren't that keen on giving that money to people it would actually help. Businesses are all about lowering tax rates and taking advantage of infrastructure at minimal costs to themselves (aka profit). If they are interested in the productivity a stable, enthused workforce would give, they have to be willing to contribute more than simply goods for purchase.
I'm curious about about these universally "cushy" jobs you talk about. I work in a manufacturing plant with a wide range of positions; indoor, outdoor, dirty/stinky, clean, sitting, exacting. Everyone one of them has people who like them and people who you couldn't pay enough to do it. I don't know that there would be any need for anything more than an hourly wage that would be like a bonus since you would only do work you liked.
I love the idea of having central banks print money to fund a GBI. This idea has been explored quite a bit on the web, but I don't recall the link, Mark Bruce pointed me to it, so maybe he can help. The argument is that technology is deflationary instead of inflationary, and as it eats more of the economy, we are going to need something that specifically applies inflationary pressure to prevent overall deflation. Part of his evidence for this is all the money that was poured into the economy in 2008-2009. I remember lots of conservatives ranting about how their life savings was going to become worthless because of the inflation caused by that. Didn't happen. Inflation still isn't at the desired level of 2%. It appears that these days we have to work to make that type of inflation rate. Printing money to give to people who would actually spend it would be a great way to accomplish this.
ReplyDeleteI also think it would be interesting to test the waters on whether businesses would be willing to see their tax rate increased a bit if it meant removing the minimum wage completely.
The image in my head of a job that isn't physically demanding and doesn't require a significant skill set is a Walmart greeter. There are probably some jobs in retail that don't involve cleaning things that could probably be in that area too. For all those jobs that suck though, the GBI would make it so that if wages aren't high enough, people will just stay home.
I agree that there is a social stigma to not working, but part of that is because of how we do welfare. We only give check "to the poor", and there is a stigma on being poor. I think that the GBI helps a lot with that. If Bill Gates get a check, no one should feel bad that they get a check. It will also be real money instead of things like food stamps which are almost set up to be degrading.
Read the book. It makes a good argument for economic collapse because that's the only way the idea of massively changing the tax code to implement DUES. I think it goes directly against the "American Dream" and "American Exceptionalism" but as a non-US National I don't know how much that matters.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fascinating concept as laid out though.