Re:Basic income would not reduce people’s willingness to work
by danaris on Tuesday January 18, 2022 @09:20AM
(#29979476)
Let's be clear about something here:
The only way an industry "can't survive" is if there is no price for their product/service at which both of these are true:
1) People can afford to pay for it
2) The employees can afford a living wage
If an industry is vital to our modern way of life, but it fails to meet those criteria, there's a third option: government subsidies, ensuring that the price can stay affordable while not shortchanging the employees.
However, as critical as I generally am of market-based solutions, in this case I genuinely believe that at least in the vast majority of cases, the second-order effects of the safety net offered by UBI will not require additional government subsidies for any vital industries. Some things may get more expensive, but overall, life will get better.
The only way an industry "can't survive" is if there is no price for their product/service at which both of these are true:
1) People can afford to pay for it
2) The employees can afford a living wage
If an industry is vital to our modern way of life, but it fails to meet those criteria, there's a third option: government subsidies, ensuring that the price can stay affordable while not shortchanging the employees.
However, as critical as I generally am of market-based solutions, in this case I genuinely believe that at least in the vast majority of cases, the second-order effects of the safety net offered by UBI will not require additional government subsidies for any vital industries. Some things may get more expensive, but overall, life will get better.