Universal Basic Income

via Scott Santens: “With more data at hand than theoretical projection, the evidence is overwhelming: Universal #BasicIncome is working nearly universally.”

Michael Venutolo-Mantovani on Business Insider: Universal basic income is working — even in red states

My take: I usually avoid controversial topics here, but this one seems important and contains some viable lessons that should appeal across the various aisles of our country.

UBI is showing itself to be effective – more importantly cost effective – in a wide variety of contexts. Durham, North Carolina’s Mayor shows how to respond to the predictable criticism of the approach by being purely selfish:

We’re going to have to pay for these people one way or another, either in incarceration, benefits, homeless shelters, whatever it is. It seems to me that spending more money up front makes more sense than housing folks, monitoring and feeding them, and taking care of their healthcare in prison.

(Never mind that it’s also far more humane and dignified. I support using the selfish argument to get there.)