2011/8/6 Jed Rothwell <jedrothw...@gmail.com>: > I think we will need to do something like this when robots and computers > eliminate most human labor. We need a gradual transition so a system along > these lines. See: > http://www.thelightsinthetunnel.com/ > - Jed >
I think that according synopsis, author is too pessimistic about the future technology. However, it is for sure that there is huge demand for reducing the work hours to something like 20-30 hours per week. Around $1000-2000 negative income tax per month would make it very much easier encouraging to shorten the workday. This applies only of course for low paid work. Those entrepreneurs who have high income level will do now and in the future 60+ hour work week! But I am sure that no matter how much there will be robotic technology to do simple works, there is always enough demand for full employment. Unemployment is typically just an artifact of uneven wealth distribution and poor welfare design, where poor people need to make choice that either they live fully with social welfare or they do low paid part time works and does not earn much more net incomes than they get from welfare by doing nothing. With negative income tax poor people will get not just $2000 cash, but they can also earn extra income by doing part time work, what is always available. That would ensure that poorest people in the society would have net income of something between $3000-4000 per month. I think that this is the level of income that is quite well above the poverty line! - Jouni Ps. I am unsure about the level of typical income in USA. In Finland I have calculated that we would afford to some €1000-1500 negative income tax per month in current taxation level that is something like 45%. Therefore in USA, with their current taxation level, that is presumably something in order of 30%, $2000 per month should be realistic.
