Philippe van Parijs on the History of Basic Income

Summary

The history of basic income spans centuries, starting with early proposals from figures like Thomas More and Thomas Paine. Although the idea of unconditional income evolved slowly, it gained momentum in the 20th century with intellectuals like James Meade and the push for experimental programs in the U.S. and Canada. The concept surged again in the 2010s, highlighted by national discussions and trials in countries like Switzerland and Finland. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the need for a universal safety net, raising global awareness of basic income as a potential solution to economic instability.

Takeaways

• 😀 Thomas More's 'Utopia' was an early example of a social vision but did not propose unconditional basic income (UBI).
• 😀 Juan Luis Vives proposed a conditional minimum income scheme in 1526, inspired by England's poor laws, which laid the groundwork for future social assistance schemes.
• 😀 Thomas Paine and Thomas Spence, in the late 18th century, both introduced ideas related to universal income, with Paine suggesting a basic endowment for young people and a pension for older citizens.
• 😀 Joseph Charlier made the first national-level proposal for basic income in 1848, calling it the 'territorial dividend,' though it had little impact at the time.
• 😀 Public debate around UBI began in the UK after World War I, with figures like Dennis Milner advocating for it under the name 'state bonus.'
• 😀 The concept of UBI saw sporadic advocacy in the 20th century, with intellectuals such as G.G.H. Cole and James Meade supporting the idea, but it lacked mainstream acceptance.
• 😀 UBI re-emerged in the 1960s, particularly in the United States, where economists like Jim Tobin backed it, and it even became part of presidential candidate George McGovern's platform, though he lost the 1972 election.
• 😀 UBI inspired several experiments in the 1970s in the U.S. and Canada, such as negative income tax trials, but interest waned as the experiments concluded.
• 😀 The idea of UBI gained traction again in the 1980s in Europe, with the term 'basic income' becoming more common and various countries experimenting with proposals.
• 😀 The 2016 referendum in Switzerland and Finland's national experiment helped bring UBI into the global spotlight, with political candidates like Benoît Hamon in France advocating for it.
• 😀 The COVID-19 pandemic led to renewed interest in UBI as a potential solution for economic insecurity, highlighting its role in providing financial resilience and addressing challenges like globalization and automation.

Q & A

What is the earliest known proposal of a basic income concept?

The earliest known proposal of a basic income concept was by Juan Luis Vives in his 1526 work 'On the Assistance to the Poor,' where he suggested a conditional minimum income scheme, though not truly unconditional.

Who was the first to propose an unconditional basic income, and what did it entail?

Thomas Paine proposed an unconditional basic income in the late 18th century, which included a universal endowment for all young people and an unconditional basic pension for everyone over the age of 50.

What was the 'territorial dividend' and who proposed it?

The 'territorial dividend' was a proposal for a basic income at the national level, introduced in 1848 by Joseph Charlier in his book 'Solution of the Social Problem,' which was published in Brussels.

How did the concept of basic income re-emerge after World War I?

After World War I, the concept of basic income re-emerged through proposals like the 'State Bonus' by Dennis Milner, an engineer and Quaker, which gained some attention at a national convention of the British Labour Party.

Which prominent intellectuals continued advocating for basic income in the 20th century?

Prominent intellectuals such as G.D.H. Cole, the first holder of the chair of political philosophy at Oxford University, and economist James Meade, who won the Nobel Prize, continued advocating for basic income into the 20th century.

How did the basic income idea influence political movements in the 1960s and 1970s?

In the 1960s and 1970s, the idea of basic income gained political traction in the United States, with economists like James Tobin supporting it. It also inspired presidential candidate George McGovern, who included it in his platform, though he ultimately lost the election in 1972.

What was the outcome of basic income experiments in the 1970s?

In the 1970s, basic income experiments, such as the negative income tax trials in the U.S. and Canada, were conducted. However, by the time these experiments were completed, public interest in the idea had waned.

When did the term 'basic income' start to gain more international attention?

The term 'basic income' gained more international attention in the 1980s when it began being discussed under various names in European countries, and the first international conference on basic income was held in 1996 in Louisville.

What key events in the 2010s sparked wider global awareness of basic income?

Key events that sparked global awareness of basic income in the 2010s included a 2016 Swiss referendum on the topic, Finland's basic income experiment, and the inclusion of basic income in the French presidential candidate Benoît Hamon's program.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic influence the global conversation about basic income?

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a universal basic income as a means of providing economic security, especially in the face of disruptions caused by globalization and automation, showing that basic income could make societies more resilient.

What factors are necessary for the successful implementation of a basic income system, according to the speaker?

The successful implementation of a basic income system requires a coalition of visionaries to point the way, activists to energize the movement, thinkers to find practical solutions, and courageous politicians to push the idea through political channels.