[pp.int.general] Why a basic income is not so socialistic

[Marko Mitrovic]

The following is my humble opinion.

The concept of basic income is at the same time both 'liberal' and
'socialist' concept, and as that can (and I think it will at some point)
represent next stage in development of human societies.

Socialist aspect of basic income is more or less clear, of course. You take
care of the people, offer more humane society, buffer loss of job, etc, and
in ideal case, if high enough basic income would completely eradicate
poverty.

On the other hand, liberal side of basic income is kind of hidden. You
pointed out on some aspects and I think they are correct, transactional
costs being among them. But I think you missed one very important one:
basic income liberates labour markets. With basic income in place you can
abolish minimum wage laws and make markets much freer. With some more
serious brainstorming, I'm sure many other similar likely effects of basic
income can be found.

Therefore, I agree with you in a sense that basic income have significant
liberal side to that. But problem with left/right liberal/socialist is that
those are outdated concepts. Economical and political realities have
progressed beyond that mostly XIX century frameworks, and we currently lack
adequate new economical school of thought. Thus I see basic income as part
of something new, that is not liberal nor socialist but something better
than both and above, and I see basic income as integral part of that, and
as important part of politics in next few decades and/or centuries. It is
kind of next step that have to be taken.

Actually, pushing basic income as part of some new more humane but still
efficient and liberal economy and creating new theoretical approaches in
those directions can be Nobel Prize material in the future, and one of few
possible long-term exits from current dead end that world economy is in.

I only briefly took part in basic income discussion prior, so I could be
repeating much of what you guys have said, and if so, I'm sorry :)
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