What's Wrong With a Free Lunch?Our politicians insist that we live in a time of unprecedented prosperity, yet more and more Americans are pointing out that the richest 1% of our society holds more wealth than the bottom 90% put together. In this timely book, economist Philippe Van Parijs has a simple plan for addressing not only poverty but other social ills: everyone would be paid a universal basic income (UBI) at a level sufficient for subsistence. Everyone, including "those who make no social contribution-who spend their mornings bickering with their partner, surf off Malibu in the afternoon, and smoke pot all night." Van Parijs argues that a UBI would reduce unemployment, improve women's lives, and prevent the environmental damage caused by overproduction and fast growth. At the heart of his proposal is the intention to secure real freedom for all, because it offers the greatest possible opportunity to those with the least opportunities. He acknowledges that an idle surfer might not deserve a UBI, but that the surfer's good luck would be no different than the good fortune enjoyed by those who benefit from the current distribution of resources. Responses to this controversial proposal vary: Some are in favor of a basic income, but only if it's tied to work. Others find the entire proposal unrealistic and unaffordable. Almost all agree, however, that it is time for us to talk about this issue. NEW DEMOCRACY FORUM: A series of short paperback originals exploring creative solutions to our most urgent national concerns. The series editors (for Boston Review), Joshua Cohen and Joel Rogers, aim to foster politically engaged, intellectually honest, and morally serious debate about fundamental issues-both on and off the agenda of conventional politics. |
Contents
A Basic Income for All | 3 |
2 | 27 |
What about Reciprocity? | 29 |
UBI and the Flat Tax | 34 |
Falling in Love Again | 39 |
Security and Laissezfaire | 43 |
Subsidize Wages | 51 |
UBI and the Work Ethic | 60 |
Why Pay Bill Gates? | 85 |
Something for Nothing? | 90 |
A Debate We Need | 98 |
The Big Picture | 102 |
On Liberty | 106 |
Pathways from Here | 111 |
3 | 119 |
Reply | 121 |
Optional Freedoms | 70 |
Good for Women | 75 |
Dignity and Deprivation | 80 |
Notes | 129 |
About the Contributors | 137 |
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Common terms and phrases
achieve Ackerman ALPEROVITZ Alstott American argue argument Barry believe benefits Bruce Ackerman CLAUS OFFE contribution cost countries debate demogrant distribution earned income economic Edmund Phelps effects elderly EMMA ROTHSCHILD employers equal Europe European feasibility full-time fund Galston GAR ALPEROVITZ GOODIN growth guaranteed guaranteed minimum income household idea increase individuals inequality institutions JOEL ROGERS labor market least less liberty lives means-tested median ment minimum income moral negative income tax normative option Parijs's participation income payments percent person PETER EDELMAN Phelps Philippe Van Parijs political poor poverty line principle problem programs proposal Rawls real freedom real libertarian recipients redistribution reduce requirements sense social justice social policy Social Security standard strategy subsidies subsistence level surfer tax credit tion tional tive undeserved unemployment United universal basic income unpaid WADE RATHKE wage wealth welfare women workfare