{"sourceInsights":[{"id":"117693242","lede":"For a simple utility function with both intensive & extensive margins, the unemployed have higher utility with basic income (BI) than unemployment benefits (UB). For a general utility function that ignores intensive margin and a given level of unemployment, lowering UB and raising BI always raises utilitarian welfare.","slug":"a-majority-of-the-working-population-gains-from-switching-from-unemployment-benef","title":"A majority of the working population gains from switching from unemployment benefits to universal basic income.","showTitleAsQuote":false,"epistemicStatus":"econometric","reports":[{"id":"19519421","title":"Basic Income","slug":"basic-income"}],"tags":[{"slug":"welfare","name":"Welfare","id":"23933425","lede":"

Welfare refers to government-sponsored assistance programs intended to ensure that all members of society can meet their basic needs. Examples include social insurance, Medicaid, and disability insurance.

\n\n

The vast majority of welfare spending goes to those who cannot actively participate in the labor market, including children, the elderly, and the disabled.

\n","ledeExcerpt":"Welfare refers to government-sponsored assistance programs intended to ensure that all members of society can meet their basic needs. Examples include social insurance, Medicaid, and disability insurance.\n\nThe vast majority of welfare spending goes to those who cannot actively participate in the labor market, including children, the elderly, and the disabled.","featured":true},{"slug":"stability","name":"Stability","id":"23916385","lede":"

We define stability as the resiliency, robustness, and constancy of our nested social, financial, and environmental systems. Stability is the degree to which our systems can withstand stress and maintain their functionality over time.

\n\n

Why do we need stability? All else equal, a stable society is preferable to an unstable society. Stability - the product of the harmonious interaction between parts, or interwoven systems - protects against uncertainty and decay. For example, a healthy body regulates its blood glucose levels to provide cells with their required energy. Too much glucose makes cells sticky, with a paralyzing effect. Too little glucose starves them. What's important is the constancy of glucose regulation within functional limits, and the resiliency to maintain this regulation amidst adversity.

\n\n

Instability occurs when systems transgress functional limits, causing the breakdown of other systems and suffering for those who depend on them. When interlocking systems remain stable, they provide a fertile foundation for positive expectations that fuel investments in progress and broad cooperation throughout society.

\n","ledeExcerpt":"We define stability as the resiliency, robustness, and constancy of our nested social, financial, and environmental systems. Stability is the degree to which our systems can withstand stress and maintain their functionality over time. \n\nWhy do we need stability? All else equal, a stable society is preferable to an unstable society. Stability - the product of the harmonious interaction between parts, or interwoven systems - protects against uncertainty and decay. For example, a healthy body regulates its blood glucose levels to provide cells with their required energy. Too much glucose makes cells sticky, with a paralyzing effect. Too little glucose starves them. What's important is the constancy of glucose regulation within functional limits, and the resiliency to maintain this regulation amidst adversity.\n\nInstability occurs when systems transgress functional limits, causing the breakdown of other systems and suffering for those who depend on them. When interlocking systems remain stable, they provide a fertile foundation for positive expectations that fuel investments in progress and broad cooperation throughout society.","featured":true},{"slug":"ubi","name":"Universal Basic Income (UBI)","id":"19519447","lede":"

Universal Basic Income is an unconditional, individual, periodic, cash payment granted to all citizens regardless of income or employment status.

\n","ledeExcerpt":"Universal Basic Income is an unconditional, individual, periodic, cash payment granted to all citizens regardless of income or employment status.","featured":null},{"slug":"universalism","name":"Universalism","id":"101707811","lede":"

One of the defining conflicts of economic discourse today is the debate over whether government programs should be 'targeted' to particular demographics - such as stimulus payments only going to those who earn less than $75,000 per year - or if they should be 'universal', provided to all citizens (and taxed to adjust distribution afterwards).

\n\n

Universal programs boast the virtue of simplicity, while carrying the burden of size. Universal programs require far less bureaucracy, since no determination of who is eligible for payments is required. Advocates suggest that society can still tailor the distributional effects of universal programs by taxing 'on the backend'. But universal programs thus carry significantly higher gross costs, and require greater disbursement of public funds up front.

\n\n

Targeted programs effectively 'tax on the frontend', adjusting the distribution of a program before giving it out. Thus, they have smaller price tags, but require more complex infrastructure to keep track of eligibility and adjust accordingly.

\n","ledeExcerpt":"One of the defining conflicts of economic discourse today is the debate over whether government programs should be 'targeted' to particular demographics - such as stimulus payments only going to those who earn less than $75,000 per year - or if they should be 'universal', provided to all citizens.\n\nUniversal programs boast the virtue of simplicity, while carrying the burden of size. Universal programs require far less bureaucracy, since no determination of who is eligible for payments is required. Advocates suggest that society can still tailor the distributional effects of universal programs by taxing 'on the backend'. But universal programs thus carry significantly higher gross costs, and require greater disbursement of public funds up front.\n\nTargeted programs effectively 'tax on the frontend', adjusting the distribution of a program before giving it out. Thus, they have smaller price tags, but require more complex infrastructure to keep track of eligibility and adjust accordingly.","featured":true}],"sources":[{"id":"117693236","lede":"\"We show that majority of the working population gains from switching from unemployment benefits to a universal basic income, with given unemployment and essentially any wage distribution, although the tax rate will increase.\"","link":"https://ftp.iza.org/dp5236.pdf","slug":"efficient-redistribution-comparing-basic-income-with-unemployment-benefits","kind":"Academic Paper","title":"Efficient Redistribution: Comparing Basic Income with Unemployment Benefits","year":"2010-01-01","researchers":[{"id":"117693231","location":"University of St. Andrews","name":"Felix FitzRoy","seoDescription":"","slug":"felix-fitzroy"},{"id":"117693233","location":"University of St. Andrews","name":"Jim Jin","seoDescription":"","slug":"jim-jin"}]}]}],"source":{"id":"117693236","lede":"\"We show that majority of the working population gains from switching from unemployment benefits to a universal basic income, with given unemployment and essentially any wage distribution, although the tax rate will increase.\"","link":"https://ftp.iza.org/dp5236.pdf","slug":"efficient-redistribution-comparing-basic-income-with-unemployment-benefits","kind":"Academic Paper","title":"Efficient Redistribution: Comparing Basic Income with Unemployment Benefits","year":"2010-01-01","researchers":[{"id":"117693231","location":"University of St. Andrews","name":"Felix FitzRoy","seoDescription":"","slug":"felix-fitzroy"},{"id":"117693233","location":"University of St. Andrews","name":"Jim Jin","seoDescription":"","slug":"jim-jin"}]}}