How, where and when can a universal basic income be put into political practice? This book discusses these questions by analyzing the political logic of a basic income and its controversial political and scientific implications. The author studies the institutions, rules, and decision-making processes of conventional democracies to reveal an institutional framework in which a universal basic income for all citizens could eventually become politically viable. The work addresses a broad range of topics, such as nationwide experiments with a basic income, voters' support for the idea, and the effects of a basic income on business cycles and demographic policies. As such, it will appeal to anyone interested in the preconditions and implications of introducing a universal basic income.

Autorentext

Burkhard Wehner is an independent scholar and theorist in economics and political science. He has developed alternative theories and political concepts of democracy, social and monetary policy, and the labor market. He also writes fiction on related subjects.

Inhalt
1.Introduction12.Basic income a project for generations12.1 Unconditional basic income a consensus-building term?12.2 The transition to the basic income system - an impossible task?43. A long-term vision113.1 Maximal market transparency113.2 Maximal transparency in redistribution133.3 Basic income and social security133.4 Basic income, minimum wage and full employment guarantee153.5 Optimization, not maximization164. Basic income in other policy areas204.1 Basic income and business cycle policy204.2 Basic income and demographic policy214.3 Basic income for nations in need225. Common objections to basic income255.1 Tax burden and work incentives255.2 Further objections276. The role of pilot studies296.1 Experiments to date296.2 The logic of basic income studies336.3 The case for nationwide experiments356.4 Candidates for nationwide experiments406.5 Principles of sponsoring426.6 Potential sponsors436.7 Epistemic objectives447. Basic income, demographic structure and the size of the state468. Basic income and the reshaping of democracy518.1 Intellectual overburdening of policymakers518.2 Basic income states - involuntary associations?578.3 Intellectual overburdening of citizens599. A project for the 22nd century?629.1 Two basic errors629.2 Formation of consciousness649.3 The political detour as a shortcut649.4 The future of basic income activism66Bibliography69