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Basic income and the labour market: Labour supply, precarious work and technological change

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  • David A. Green

Abstract

In this paper, I examine the relationship between a basic income as a policy tool and the functioning of the labour market. I focus on three key areas where a basic income has been hypothesized to relate to labour markets: (i) through altering work decisions, (ii) as a response to predicted changes in work arising from technological change and (iii) as backstop that would allow workers to demand better working conditions and higher wages. I provide answers on the role or impact of a basic income in each area in the context of the current Canadian labour market. But a key focus in the paper is on the ways we could alter our labour market models to provide a better basis for debating the impacts of policies like a basic income in the context of a goal of moving toward a more just society. Revenu de base et marché du travail : offre de main‐d'œuvre, travail précaire et changements technologiques. Dans cet article, j'examine la relation entre le revenu de base en tant que mécanisme d'intervention et le fonctionnement du marché du travail. Je mets l'accent sur trois domaines clés où des hypothèses ont été formulées concernant un lien entre le revenu de base et les marchés du travail : par la modification des décisions en matière de travail; en tant que réponse à des changements attendus dans le monde du travail découlant d'un changement technologique; et comme filet de sécurité qui permettrait aux travailleurs de demander de meilleures conditions de travail et des salaires plus élevés. Je fournis des réponses sur le rôle ou l'effet d'un revenu de base dans chaque domaine selon le contexte actuel du marché du travail canadien. Toutefois, cet article met principalement l'accent sur les modifications que nous pourrions apporter à nos modèles de marché du travail pour offrir un meilleur fondement aux débats sur les conséquences des politiques, comme le revenu de base, dans le contexte d'un objectif visant à évoluer vers une société plus juste.

Suggested Citation

  • David A. Green, 2023. "Basic income and the labour market: Labour supply, precarious work and technological change," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(4), pages 1195-1220, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:56:y:2023:i:4:p:1195-1220
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12698
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