Suchergebnisse

The oft-repeated accusation of utopianism against basic income advocates is contradicted by evidence that aspects of this proposal may be entering the social policy mainstream. But – as in every sphere of public policy – the measures proposed are compromised with other longstanding principles. Using the example of the tax-benefit reforms scheduled to be introduced in the United Kingdom (UK), this article argues that there are risks of undesirable consequences (in terms of justice and equal citizenship) from the adoption of such partial versions of the scheme, but that they represent necessary first steps towards the gains claimed for a full basic income.

This article offers a philosophical discussion of paternalism. First, it establishes the relevance to basic income of the concept of 'paternalism'. Second, it provides an overview and critique of the main philosophical schools of paternalism. Third, it argues in favour of a version of soft/weak paternalism, which is here termed 'social paternalism'. Fourth, it reviews the main positions that advocates of various paternalisms might take towards basic income. Finally, it defends a proposal to allow a basic income stream to be 'mortgaged' into lumpsum capital grants. The article therefore fills an important gap in the theoretical literature pertaining to basic income.