This Friday, January 14, at 15:00 GMT (7:00 AM Pacific/9 AM Central/10 AM Eastern), there is a new session of CREDO’s flagship seminar series. Details below:
“Ubi Caritas? Some Economics and Ethics of a Universal Basic Income”
Presented by:
Catherine Pakaluk (Catholic University of America)
Clara Paino (Samford University)
Respondents:
Craig Gunderson (Baylor University)
Christina McRorie (Creighton University)
Universal basic income (UBI) proposals raise interesting questions from the economic and ethical points of view. Advocates argue that it will ensure a baseline standard of living for each person, while combating the inefficiency and stigma of traditional welfare programs. Opponents contend that UBI programs are economically unfeasible, unlikely to reduce poverty, and ethically suspect since they treat individuals who choose not to work and those who cannot work as identical. We build a case from both economic theory and Catholic Social Thought to argue that a UBI is an indefensible policy proposal. The fundamental mistake of all UBI programs is that they aim to separate human work from its fruits. This implies that a UBI would not only distort the economic sphere, but political and social life as well. Special attention is given to the implications of a UBI for families.
This workshop is by invitation only.
