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0 pointstalldatethrow1y ago0 comments

That's probably because the second order effects of UBI are obvious to anyone that's ever had a job. So you have the people that know the obvious, and the people that want to hide the obvious from the few that don't get it.

The covid handouts and raised unemployment benefits gave a sneak peak to anyone else that was blind.

Even things on the user market were on shirt supply and with high prices. In California the effective unemployment rate was something like $23+.. why would anyone sell their old lawn mower for $50 if you're getting $4000 to stay home? Why work painting houses for $4k a month when you got $4k to sit home. Magically everything cost double or more instantly... I wonder why.

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pcrh1y ago

It isn't a very good critique, as it assumes that the only reason people work is to avoid starvation.

People will work very hard to increase their income levels above that required solely for basic needs (i.e. UBI levels), see pretty much every non-minimum wage employee.

talldatethrowOP1y ago

I think why people work at the jobs they do is a lot more complicated than that.

Many people do work to avoid starvation PLUS maintain whatever level of standards they've become comfortable with.

But the reason IMO people work non basic jobs is because if they are already forced to work their entire lives to avoid starvation, they might as well optimize. If I have to commute, and maintain a car, and be there for 40+ hours a week, I might as well invest in getting the most out of that as possible.

But once people have enough money to maintain their comfortable lifestyle for the rest of their life, many do retire.

pcrh1y ago

Agreed. Such variable motivations for work and money apply to those on low incomes as much as they apply to those on high incomes.

There's no a-priori reason why one would expect those who receive UBI to be work-shy.

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0 pointstalldatethrow1y ago0 comments

The covid handouts and raised unemployment benefits gave a sneak peak to anyone else that was blind.

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pcrh1y ago

It isn't a very good critique, as it assumes that the only reason people work is to avoid starvation.

People will work very hard to increase their income levels above that required solely for basic needs (i.e. UBI levels), see pretty much every non-minimum wage employee.

talldatethrowOP1y ago

I think why people work at the jobs they do is a lot more complicated than that.

Many people do work to avoid starvation PLUS maintain whatever level of standards they've become comfortable with.

But once people have enough money to maintain their comfortable lifestyle for the rest of their life, many do retire.

pcrh1y ago

Agreed. Such variable motivations for work and money apply to those on low incomes as much as they apply to those on high incomes.

There's no a-priori reason why one would expect those who receive UBI to be work-shy.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse