Universal Basic Income and the Threat to Democracy as We Know It

Abstract

Some of the greatest minds of the century have predicted that, up to at least 80 percent, if not more, of the world’s workforce will be replaced by computers or artificial intelligence, the only uncertainty is about the time frame. The average prediction on timing of losses appears to be about 30 years, but many believe it will be sooner. No matter the exact period, the impact on our planet will eventually be enormous because governments will still need to find a way to provide the unemployed with money on which to live and a Universal Basic Income, a UBI, or something like it, is proposed to be paid to everyone without means test. That solution might appear well in theory, but the large numbers of unemployed will not want to be marginalized ...