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Move the debate from Universal Basic Income to Universal Basic Services | UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab (en.unesco.org)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Universal Basic Services (UBS) is an alternative case to UBI.

Under UBS, the provision of free public services must go beyond health or education to cover other basic necessities (e.g., housing, care, transport, information, nutrition).

UBS can be more egalitarian with a strong redistributive performance and impact on income inequalities.

UBS can also be more sustainable by decarbonizing the economy in a just way - rather than disproportionally loading the costs on the lower income brackets - and by supporting sustainable consumption corridors.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 months ago (3 children)

One thing to keep an eye on as far as services is to make sure they're used by all classes of people. In the states there's public housing but it's seen as inferior (and usually is actually inferior). So only the poor use it, which means it has no powerful defenders. And for most people who already own a home, they would never consider getting rid of it to move into public housing.

One advantage of UBI is that everyone gets it, so everyone will have an incentive to defend it. Think about social security - every so often politicians talk about how we might need to cut, but that would be political suicide because of how many people are invested in getting that payout.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

When I lived in Montréal, I found the social services were very strong in my neighborhood (medical, libraries, transit, daycare, schools, parks, etc).

I attribute this to all stratas of income using the same services. My comparison of Ontario had different income levels using different services, which led to quality differences between those services.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Another issue there is that anyone not poor can't use public housing. It's a means-tested program, and if you make too much money, you're unable to use it. You have to be low income.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

@dharmacurious
Most of our stuff is means tested, and not only that - the means test is based on a made up metric from nearly 80 years ago that has never been adequately adjusted to reflect modern healthcare, education, and transportation costs.

In addition, the means testing doesn't have gradual cutoffs, so once you hit the threshold you lose all of your benefits, which is just insane on its face. You don't suddenly stop needing food or housing assistance because you get a ten cent raise. We should set the system up to encourage people to grow into self sufficiency, not punish them into a permanent underclass.
@LesserAbe

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Absolutely. Been in that situation. I have passed on jobs/raises because it would mean losing food stamps or a rent voucher. Shit fucking sucks.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

The issue is how to convince the rich to use these free services.