"The main novelty of the fourth Industrial Revolution is the entry of robots and Artificial Intelligence into the production process. This phenomenon could potentially generate high levels of unemployment, or even full unemployment, and therefore calls for innovative public policies. This book adopts an agnostic position on the size of the future impact of technological progress on employment, but proposes a thought experiment built on a full unemployment scenario which focuses on the consequences that these policies might have for people's wellbeing, with particular reference to the provision of a Universal Basic Income (UBI). Relying on some of the principles and models of Behavioral and Happiness Economics it is argued that implementing a UBI that does not change over time may increase wellbeing inequality. A policy mix that combines a rising basic income with other measures is therefore recommended. This book marks a significant contribution to the literature on economic policy, labor economics, the economics of wellbeing and happiness and behavioral economics"--

Universal basic income (UBI) is emerging as one of the most hotly debated issues in development and social protection policy. But what are the features of UBI? What is it meant to achieve? How do we know, and what don’t we know, about its performance? What does it take to implement it in practice? Drawing from global evidence, literature, and survey data, this volume provides a framework to elucidate issues and trade-offs in UBI with a view to help inform choices around its appropriateness and feasibility in different contexts. Specifically, the book examines how UBI differs from or complements other social assistance programs in terms of objectives, coverage, incidence, adequacy, incentives, effects on poverty and inequality, financing, political economy, and implementation. It also reviews past and current country experiences, surveys the full range of existing policy proposals, provides original results from micro†“tax benefit simulations, and sets out a range of considerations around the analytics and practice of UBI.

The main novelty of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is the entry of robots and Artificial Intelligence into the production process. This phenomenon could potentially generate high levels of unemployment, or even full unemployment, and therefore calls for innovative public policies. This book adopts an agnostic position on the size of the future impact of technological progress on employment but proposes a thought experiment built on a full unemployment scenario, which focuses on the consequences that these policies might have for people’s well-being, with particular reference to the provision of a universal Basic Income (UBI). Relying on some of the principles and models of Behavioral and Happiness Economics, it is argued that implementing a UBI that does not change over time may increase well-being inequality. A policy mix that combines a rising basic income with other measures is therefore recommended. This book marks a significant contribution to the literature on economic policy, labor economics, the economics of well-being and happiness, and behavioral economics.

A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Shortlisted for the 2018 FT & McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award A brilliantly reported, global look at universal basic income—a stipend given to every citizen—and why it might be necessary in an age of rising inequality, persistent poverty, and dazzling technology. Imagine if every month the government deposited $1,000 into your bank account, with nothing expected in return. It sounds crazy. But it has become one of the most influential and hotly debated policy ideas of our time. Futurists, radicals, libertarians, socialists, union representatives, feminists, conservatives, Bernie supporters, development economists, child-care workers, welfare recipients, and politicians from India to Finland to Canada to Mexico—all are talking about UBI. In this sparkling and provocative book, economics writer Annie Lowrey examines the UBI movement from many angles. She travels to Kenya to see how a UBI is lifting the poorest people on earth out of destitution, India to see how inefficient government programs are failing the poor, South Korea to interrogate UBI’s intellectual pedigree, and Silicon Valley to meet the tech titans financing UBI pilots in expectation of a world with advanced artificial intelligence and little need for human labor. Lowrey explores the potential of such a sweeping policy and the challenges the movement faces, among them contradictory aims, uncomfortable costs, and, most powerfully, the entrenched belief that no one should get something for nothing. In the end, she shows how this arcane policy has the potential to solve some of our most intractable economic problems, while offering a new vision of citizenship and a firmer foundation for our society in this age of turbulence and marvels.

Information paper, designed to serve as a background for discussion, on unemployment in developing countries - covers employment and industrialization, employment in the service sector, rural workers, employment in rural areas, urbanization and rural migration, population growth, the role of USA economic aid, etc., and includes employment policy recommendations. References and statistical tables.

Social justice is a matter of life and death. It affects the way people live, their consequent chance of illness, and their risk of premature death. We watch in wonder as life expectancy and good health continue to increase in parts of the world and in alarm as they fail to improve in others.