How UBI Can Lead to Increase in Purposeful Work
Considering last week was Labour Day, a day when we are supposed to celebrate workers and fight for better working conditions, I feel this the perfect time to look again at what basic income could do for our economy.
Basic income. The opinions on the concept range widely with many top economists espousing its virtues and many conservatives seeing the overall cost as insurmountable.
With growing economic inequality and increasing automation of so many of our lower-wage jobs the need for some form of basic income is only going to grow.
Whether you are for or against it you have to agree that its successful introduction will dramatically change our work world—and I believe it will shift us in the right direction.
The COVID pandemic wreaked havoc on our economy and countless businesses saw themselves having to fold because of the effects. In order to rebuild we need a strong business market being run by established entrepreneurs.
The seed money provided by UBI will allow us to rebuild our economy in a better and healthier way by opening the door to purposeful work.
So many people dream of being their own boss with numerous reasons forming the base (control over hours and staff, easier commute, doing what they love or something important, etc.) but financial realities and constraints prevent them from taking that leap to entrepreneurship.
Offering a financial safety net will free some of our greatest minds and give them the push they need to explore ideas that will become tomorrow’s can’t-live-without products and services.
In a sense through UBI the government would be providing seed funding for thousands of entrepreneurs while eliminating application and rejection administration.
The good news is this isn’t a pipe dream and countless groups are working towards the implementation of basic income.
UBI Works is one of these bodies. A powerful board comprised of financial and social policy experts this collective is doing what it can behind the scenes to bring UBI to the forefront in Canada. We should support collectives like these as they are the ones who can help turn pipe dreams into legislature.
The fight to establish basic income has been hard and plagued with administrative and political setbacks. In order to really get it introduced we need a real show of public support to ensure the politicians have to listen.
Interested in joining the fight for UBI? On September 19 there will be a rally on Zoom in support of a basic income. Join the fight and together we’ll help pave the way to a better tomorrow.