Basic income Vs basic jobs?
We all seem to be worried about the robots taking over these days — and they don’t need to take all the jobs to be horrendously disruptive. A situation where 30 to 40 per cent of the working age population was economically useless would be tough enough. They might be taxi drivers replaced by a self-driving car, hedge fund managers replaced by an algorithm, or financial journalists replaced by a chatbot on Instagram.
By “economically useless” I mean people unable to secure work at anything approaching a living wage. For all their value as citizens, friends, parents, and their intrinsic worth as human beings, they would simply have no role in the economic system.
I’m not sure how likely this is — I would bet against it happening soon — but it is never too early to prepare for what might be a utopia, or a catastrophe. And an intriguing debate has broken out over how to look after disadvantaged workers both now and in this robot future.
Should everyone be given free money? Or should everyone receive the guarantee of a decently-paid job? Various non-profits, polemicists and even Silicon Valley types have thrown their weight behind the “free money” idea in the form of a universal basic income, while US senators including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand have been pushing for trials of a jobs guarantee.
Basic income or basic jobs? There are countless details for the policy wonks to argue over, but what interests me at the moment is the psychology. In a world of mass technological unemployment, would either of these two remedies make us happy?
Psychologists have found that we like and benefit from feeling in control. That is a mark in favour of a universal basic income: being unconditional, it is likely to enhance our feelings of control. The money would be ours, by right, to do with as we wish. A job guarantee might work the other way: it makes money conditional on punching the clock.
On the other hand (again!), we like to keep busy. Harvard researchers Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert have found that “a wandering mind is an unhappy mind”. And social contact is generally good for our wellbeing. Maybe guaranteed jobs would help keep us active and socially connected.
The truth is, we don’t really know. I would hesitate to pronounce with confidence about which policy might ultimately be better for our wellbeing. It is good to see that the more thoughtful advocates of either policy — or both policies simultaneously — are asking for large-scale trials to learn more.
Vocabulary
horrendously disruptive – causing an extreme amount of trouble, chaos, or interruption to a system or process, “The sudden bankruptcy of the major supplier was horrendously disruptive to our manufacturing schedule.”
working age population – the total number of people in a country who are considered old enough and young enough to work, usually between 15 and 64, “As birth rates decline, the country is facing a shrinking working age population.”
economically useless – unable to contribute to or participate in the production of goods, services, or wealth within a society, “Without retraining programs, workers whose jobs are automated risk becoming economically useless in the modern market.”
algorithm – a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer, “The social media platform uses a complex algorithm to decide which videos appear on your feed.”
secure work – to successfully find and keep a stable job, “With so many businesses closing down, it has become incredibly difficult for graduates to secure work.”
living wage – a wage that is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living, covering food, housing, and other basic needs, “Many activists argue that the minimum wage should be raised to a living wage so families can survive without multiple jobs.”
intrinsic worth – the natural, inherent value that something or someone has simply by existing, regardless of their usefulness or market value, “Every human being has intrinsic worth, quite apart from how much money they earn.”
bet against – to express doubt that something will happen, or to predict its failure, “He is such a talented entrepreneur that I would never bet against his next business venture succeeding.”
utopia – an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect, “Some tech enthusiasts believe artificial intelligence will create a utopia where no one has to work.”
catastrophe – an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster, “The sudden collapse of the banking system triggered an economic catastrophe worldwide.”
intriguing debate – a highly interesting or fascinating discussion involving opposing viewpoints, “The panel held an intriguing debate on whether space exploration is worth the massive financial cost.”
broken out – started suddenly (used for arguments, wars, fires, or diseases), “A fierce argument has broken out among the scientists regarding the safety of the new drug.”
look after – to take care of or make sure that someone or something is safe and well, “The government needs to create better social programs to look after citizens who lose their jobs to automation.”
disadvantaged workers – employees who face systemic hardships, poverty, or lack of opportunities due to economic changes or background, “The charity provides free training programs specifically targeted at helping disadvantaged workers.”
thrown their weight behind – to give full support, influence, or backing to a person, idea, or cause, “Several major tech CEOs have thrown their weight behind the proposal for cleaner energy sources.”
universal basic income – a government program in which every citizen receives a regular, unconditional sum of money, “Testing a universal basic income showed that recipients used the money for education, childcare, and basic bills.”
pushing for – demanding or trying hard to achieve something, “The environmental group is pushing for stricter laws against industrial pollution.”
policy wonks – people who take an intense, overly detailed interest in the technicalities of political or government policy, “The new tax reform bill is so complicated that only the policy wonks in Washington truly understand it.”
technological unemployment – the loss of jobs caused by technological change, such as automation or artificial intelligence, “The transition from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles caused massive technological unemployment among blacksmiths.”
remedies – treatments or solutions to a disease, problem, or difficult situation, “Economists are searching for effective remedies to fix the rising cost of housing.”
a mark in favour of – a point, feature, or argument that supports or gives an advantage to something, “The car’s excellent fuel efficiency is definitely a mark in favour of buying it.”
unconditional – not subject to any conditions or requirements; absolute, “The parents provided their children with unconditional love and support no matter what mistakes they made.”
enhance – to intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of something, “Adding fresh herbs to the soup will greatly enhance its flavor.”
by right – because of a just, legal, or natural claim; rightfully, “The property belongs to her by right as the sole remaining heir to the estate.”
conditional on – depending on a specific requirement or event happening first, “The bank’s approval of the loan is conditional on you providing proof of a steady income.”
punching the clock – an idiom meaning to clock in and out of a job, often implying routine, repetitive, or uninspiring work, “He spent twenty years punching the clock at the factory just to provide for his family.”
wandering mind – a state where a person’s thoughts drift away from the current task to unrelated topics, “A wandering mind during a long lecture can cause you to miss crucial information for the upcoming exam.”
wellbeing – the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy, “Regular exercise and adequate sleep are essential for maintaining your mental wellbeing.”
hesitate to pronounce – to be reluctant or unwilling to make a confident statement or judgment about something, “Without seeing the full medical reports, the doctor would hesitate to pronounce a definitive diagnosis.”
advocates – people who publicly support or recommend a particular cause, policy, or idea, “Animal rights advocates marched in the streets to protest against the use of fur in fashion.”
simultaneously – happening, existing, or done at the exact same time, “The concert was broadcast live on television and streamed online simultaneously.”
large-scale trials – extensive, wide-ranging tests or experiments involving a huge number of participants to see if a system works, “Before the vaccine could be distributed to the public, it had to undergo rigorous large-scale trials.”