Universal Basic Income And Covid19

Wednesday, 25 March 2020, 8:37 pm
Article: Keith Rankin

I keep hearing rather unfortunate 'expert' comments in response to questions asked about Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a way of responding to the Covid19 economic contraction. These comments all relate to a 'straw man' concept of UBI that is obviously unaffordable and impractical. It is not possible to offer any kind of Universal Basic Income (as an unconditional payment to all adult taxresidents) at the level of New Zealand Superannuation.

What is both possible and necessary is to offer a basic universal income – initially set at $175 per week – in conjunction with a flat rate of income tax of 33 percent.

By doing what is possible and necessary, we provide bridging income guarantees to all New Zealanders who risk income losses, in in a way that requires no new bureaucratic input.

By doing this, all people with salaries or other earnings of more than $1,346 per week would receive exactly the same after tax as they do now. They already receive this benefit.

Further, all beneficiaries and superannuitants would continue to receive exactly the same as they already expect to receive after April 1. This $175 per week benefit is, in effect, the first part of their existing benefit.

Working people on incomes lower than $1,346 per week would receive more than they do now. All working people expecting to suffer a loss of income will be assured that they would continue to receive this $175 benefit as the market component their income falls.

If the $175 per week proves to be too low, then it can subsequently be adjusted upwards.

It's simple. Really simple. And necessary. It is a way to maintain a high productivity economy that experiences a loss of gross domestic product. It is an easy way of ensuring that everybody gets a slice of a shrinking economic pie.

To avoid confusion, let's call the $175 per week a Basic Universal Income (BUI).

© Scoop Media

Keith Rankin

Political Economist, Scoop Columnist

Keith Rankin taught economics at Unitec in Mt Albert since 1999. An economic historian by training, his research has included an analysis of labour supply in the Great Depression of the 1930s, and has included estimates of New Zealand's GNP going back to the 1850s.

Keith believes that many of the economic issues that beguile us cannot be understood by relying on the orthodox interpretations of our social science disciplines. Keith favours a critical approach that emphasises new perspectives rather than simply opposing those practices and policies that we don't like.

Keith retired in 2020 and lives with his family in Glen Eden, Auckland.

Contact Keith Rankin

• Website - Kieth Rankin