Come along to this partner event with the Buchanan Institute and hear about an idea that is gaining traction around the world with the potential to transform our society.
The Buchanan Institute is proposing a universal basic income: a guaranteed weekly or monthly payment for all citizens that will provide everyone with a secure financial foundation to build their lives.
The Buchanan Institute are delighted to be launching in partnership with the RSA and to have Cllr Matt Kerr, who is leading the efforts to implement a basic income pilot for Glasgow citizens, as one of our confirmed speakers.
This is a chance to hear about and get involved in this transformative idea and how it can be implemented in Scotland and the UK in 2017 and beyond.
The event is free to attend, please register by following the "Book Now" link at the top of the page.
Wine, beer and refreshments will be available at the beginning of the event. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Cooke, RSA Head of Scotland: jamie.cooke@rsa.org.uk.
Location: 50 George Square, G.05, George Square, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9JU.
Read more about the Buchanan Institute's proposal:
A Secure Foundation to Build our Lives: Making the case for a Universal Basic Income
The idea of a universal basic income, a guaranteed monthly or weekly payment paid equally to all citizens, is gaining traction among governments, politicians and policy makers across the world. Pilot schemes have recently been launched in the Netherlands, Finland, Canada, Namibia and India.
In Scotland, the Councils of Fife and Glasgow are considering being the first places in the UK to introduce a UBI pilot experiment.
Our economy has changed dramatically since much of the current welfare system was designed during the Second World War. The security of 'full employment' and 'jobs for life' have been largely replaced with a rise in part-time, flexible work, self-employment, the 'gig economy' and, for many, increasing insecurity.
A growing coalition across the political spectrum believe our current, complex and often punitive welfare system is not fit for supporting people in this modern economy. It is the Buchanan Institute's contention that the current welfare system should be replaced with a universal basic income, providing everyone with a secure foundation to build their lives.
Our proposal will give people guaranteed income security in an insecure job market, support re-training education and voluntary contributions (such as caring for elderly relatives) and always make work pay. It is also practical, financially achievable and could be implemented immediately with the necessary political will.
For a more in-depth summary of the Buchanan Institute's universal basic income proposal, see here.
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Back in 1973, there was the winter of discontent, and Ted Heath as PM instituted the 3 day week. We should have seized the opportunity back then to reduce the working week to 3 days, make employers employ 2 shifts of 3 x 2 days, 2 different groups of workers, 2 sets of pay. Then everyone would have a 4 day weekend, a decent pay to live from, and importantly a sense of Purpose. Just giving people a salary for doing nothing is not the solution. Robots, automation and computers are removing jobs, as is the equality we have - so that both sexes are in the job market. But human beings need a Purpose, need to feel as if they count - if we just pay people to be unemployed, they will not be content. Read some William Morris for more on this... He had a fair idea over 100 years ago. We can't stop progress, but we can give people their dignity and purpose in life.