IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/iza/izawol/journly2015n128.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Is unconditional basic income a viable alternative to other social welfare measures?

Author

Listed:
  • Ugo Colombino

    (University of Torino, Italy, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

Automation and globalization have brought about a tremendous increase in productivity, but also accelerated job destruction, systemic risks, and greater income inequality. Current social policies may not be adequate for achieving the goals of redistributing the gains from automation and globalization, providing efficient buffers against economic shocks, and advancing the reallocation of jobs and skills. Under certain circumstances, an unconditional basic income might be a better alternative for achieving those goals. It is simple, transparent, and has low administrative costs, though it may require higher taxes.

Suggested Citation

  • Ugo Colombino, 2015. "Is unconditional basic income a viable alternative to other social welfare measures?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 128-128, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2015:n:128
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://wol.iza.org/articles/is-unconditional-basic-income-viable-alternative-to-other-social-welfare-measures-1.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: http://wol.iza.org/articles/is-unconditional-basic-income-viable-alternative-to-other-social-welfare-measures
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Atkinson, A. B., 1996. "Public Economics in Action: The Basic Income/Flat Tax Proposal," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198292166.
    2. Stevans, Lonnie K., 2012. "Income inequality and economic incentives: Is there an equity–efficiency tradeoff?," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 149-160.
    3. Horstschräer, Julia & Clauss, Markus & Schnabel, Reinhold, 2010. "An unconditional basic income in the family context: Labor supply and distributional effects," ZEW Discussion Papers 10-091, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    4. Rolf Aaberge & Ugo Colombino & Steinar Strøm, 2004. "Do more equal slices shrink the cake? An empirical investigation of tax-transfer reform proposals in Italy," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 17(4), pages 767-785, December.
    5. Nicholas-James Clavet & Jean-Yves Duclos & Guy Lacroix, 2013. "Fighting Poverty: Assessing the Effect of Guaranteed Minimum Income Proposals in Quebec," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 39(4), pages 491-516, December.
    6. Widerquist, Karl, 2005. "A failure to communicate: what (if anything) can we learn from the negative income tax experiments?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 49-81, February.
    7. John Kay, 2017. "The Basics of Basic Income," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 52(2), pages 69-74, March.
    8. Ugo Colombino, 2015. "Five Crossroads on the Way to Basic Income. An Italian Tour," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 1(3), pages 353-389, November.
    9. James Bryan, 2005. "Have the 1996 welfare reforms and expansion of the earned income tax credit eliminated the need for a basic income guarantee in the US?," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 63(4), pages 595-611.
    10. Handler Joel & Babcock Amanda Sheely, 2006. "The Failure of Workfare: Another Reason for a Basic Income Guarantee," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 1(1), pages 1-22, June.
    11. Rosanna Scutella, 2004. "Moves to a Basic Income-Flat Tax System in Australia: Implications for the Distribution of Income and Supply of Labour," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2004n05, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ghimire, Ramesh & Skinner, Jim & Carnathan, Mike, 2020. "Who perceived automation as a threat to their jobs in metro Atlanta: Results from the 2019 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    2. James Browne & Herwig Immervoll, 2017. "Mechanics of replacing benefit systems with a basic income: comparative results from a microsimulation approach," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 15(4), pages 325-344, December.
    3. Julie Linthorst & André de Waal, 2020. "Megatrends and Disruptors and Their Postulated Impact on Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-25, October.
    4. Islam, Nizamul & Colombino, Ugo, 2018. "The case for NIT+FT in Europe. An empirical optimal taxation exercise," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 38-69.
    5. Ben Vermeulen & Jan Kesselhut & Andreas Pyka & Pier Paolo Saviotti, 2018. "The Impact of Automation on Employment: Just the Usual Structural Change?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-27, May.
    6. Ioana Marinescu, 2018. "No Strings Attached: The Behavioral Effects of U.S. Unconditional Cash Transfer Programs," NBER Working Papers 24337, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Colombino, Ugo & Islam, Nizamul, 2022. "The "Robot Economy" and Optimal Tax-Transfer Reforms," IZA Discussion Papers 15198, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Nizamul Islam & Ugo Colombino, 2018. "The case for negative income tax with flat tax in Europe. An empirical optimal taxation exercise," Working Papers 454, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    9. Magnani, Riccardo & Piccoli, Luca, 2020. "Universal basic income with flat tax reform in France," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 235-249.
    10. Stefan Angel, 2022. "Dimensionen von Digitalisierung der Sozialpolitik in Österreich. Ein konzeptioneller Diskussionsbeitrag," WIFO Working Papers 642, WIFO.
    11. Stefano Staffolani, 2023. "Deprivazione, povert? e redistribuzione del reddito," PRISMA Economia - Societ? - Lavoro, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(1-2), pages 47-69.
    12. Ugo Colombino & Nizamul Islam, 2022. "The “Robot Economy†and optimal tax-transfer reforms," CHILD Working Papers Series 101 JEL Classification: H, Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics (CHILD) - CCA.
    13. Ugo Colombino & Nizamul Islam, 2021. "Global and digitalised economy, new labour demand scenarios and optimal tax-transfer reforms," CHILD Working Papers Series 90 JEL Classification: H2, Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics (CHILD) - CCA.
    14. Tim Jackson & Peter A Victor, 2021. "Confronting inequality in the “new normal”: Hyper‐capitalism, proto‐socialism, and post‐pandemic recovery," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 504-516, May.
    15. Hertog, Steffen, 2020. "Reforming wealth distribution in Kuwait: estimating costs and impacts," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 105564, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    16. Spermann Alexander, 2017. "Basic Income in Germany: Proposals for Randomised Controlled Trials using Nudges," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 12(2), pages 1-9, December.
    17. Gassmann, Franziska & Martorano, Bruno, 2019. "The future of work and its implications for social protection and the welfare state," MERIT Working Papers 2019-039, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    18. Rafael Munoz de Bustillo Llorente, 2019. "Key challenges for the European Welfare States," JRC Working Papers on Labour, Education and Technology 2019-04, Joint Research Centre.
    19. Tromp, Alexander, 2017. "The Effects of a Hybrid Negative Income Tax on Poverty and Inequality: a Microsimulation on the UK and Italy," EUROMOD Working Papers EM15/17, EUROMOD at the Institute for Social and Economic Research.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ugo Colombino, 2015. "Five Crossroads on the Way to Basic Income. An Italian Tour," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 1(3), pages 353-389, November.
    2. Rolf Aaberge & Ugo Colombino, 2018. "Structural Labour Supply Models and Microsimulation," International Journal of Microsimulation, International Microsimulation Association, vol. 11(1), pages 162-197.
    3. Ugo Colombino & Nizamul Islam, 2021. "Combining microsimulation and optimization to identify optimal universalistic tax-transfer rule," LISER Working Paper Series 2021-06, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    4. Islam, Nizamul & Colombino, Ugo, 2018. "The case for NIT+FT in Europe. An empirical optimal taxation exercise," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 38-69.
    5. Nizamul Islam & Ugo Colombino, 2018. "The case for negative income tax with flat tax in Europe. An empirical optimal taxation exercise," Working Papers 454, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    6. Magnani, Riccardo & Piccoli, Luca, 2020. "Universal basic income with flat tax reform in France," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 235-249.
    7. Rolf Aaberge & Ugo Colombino, 2014. "Labour Supply Models," Contributions to Economic Analysis, in: Handbook of Microsimulation Modelling, volume 127, pages 167-221, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    8. Palermo Kuss Ana Helena & Neumärker K. J. Bernhard, 2018. "Modelling the Time Allocation Effects of Basic Income," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, December.
    9. repec:ces:ifofor:v:19:y:2018:i:3:p:20-29 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Ugo Colombino & Nizamul Islam, 2018. "Basic Income and Flat Tax: The Italian Scenario," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 19(03), pages 20-29, October.
    11. James Browne & Herwig Immervoll, 2017. "Mechanics of replacing benefit systems with a basic income: comparative results from a microsimulation approach," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 15(4), pages 325-344, December.
    12. Cremer, Helmuth & Roeder, Kerstin, 2015. "Means testing versus basic income: The (lack of) political support for a universal allowance," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 81-84.
    13. Day, Creina, 2022. "Increasing inequality and voting for basic income: Could gender inequality worsen?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 476-487.
    14. Henk-Wim Boer & Egbert L. W. Jongen, 2023. "Analysing tax-benefit reforms in the Netherlands using structural models and natural experiments," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(1), pages 179-209, January.
    15. Opielka, Michael, 2008. "Grundeinkommen als umfassende Sozialreform: Zur Systematik und Finanzierbarkeit am Beispiel des Vorschlags Solidarisches Bürgergeld," Edition HWWI: Chapters, in: Straubhaar, Thomas (ed.), Bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen und Solidarisches Bürgergeld - mehr als sozialutopische Konzepte, volume 1, pages 129-175, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI).
    16. de Boer, Henk-Wim & Jongen, Egbert L. W., 2020. "Analysing Tax-Benefit Reforms in the Netherlands: Using Structural Models and Natural Experiments," IZA Discussion Papers 12892, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Gan Wee Chung, 2019. "How Much Does Basic Income Cost? Modelling Basic Income as Universal Life Annuity," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 14(2), pages 1-10, December.
    18. Yunker, James A., 2016. "Economic inequality and optimal redistribution: A theoretical and empirical analysis," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 528-552.
    19. Ville-Veikko Pulkka, 2017. "A free lunch with robots – can a basic income stabilise the digital economy?," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 23(3), pages 295-311, August.
    20. Bessho, Shun-ichiro & Hayashi, Masayoshi, 2014. "Intensive margins, extensive margins, and spousal allowances in the Japanese system of personal income taxes: A discrete choice analysis," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 162-178.
    21. Colombino, Ugo & Narazani, Edlira, 2014. "Closing the Gender Gap: Gender Based Taxation, Wage Subsidies or Basic Income?," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 201412, University of Turin.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    basic income; means testing; incentives; redistribution; globalization; automation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2015:n:128. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/izaaade.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.