The Debate Over the Definition of Basic Income

<p dir="ltr">The basic income movement is in the midst of a substantial internal debate about the definition of basic income. The current debate focuses mostly on two questions: (1) Should the definition be restricted to a payment that is uniform with respect to income (a non-means-t...

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Main Author: Karl Widerquist (19757040) (author)
Published: 2024
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author Karl Widerquist (19757040)
author_facet Karl Widerquist (19757040)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Karl Widerquist (19757040)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-12-17T09:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1515/bis-2024-0021
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_Debate_Over_the_Definition_of_Basic_Income/30094927
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Human society
Policy and administration
Political science
Sociology
Philosophy and religious studies
History and philosophy of specific fields
basic income
définition
guaranteed income
means-tested grant
the definition of basic income
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The Debate Over the Definition of Basic Income
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">The basic income movement is in the midst of a substantial internal debate about the definition of basic income. The current debate focuses mostly on two questions: (1) Should the definition be restricted to a payment that is uniform with respect to income (a non-means-tested grant delivered to high- and low-income people alike)? (2) Should the definition include a threshold such as one stipulating that the grant is large enough to live on? Although this article recommends keeping the current definition in place, its central point is not whether one definition is best but that the definitional issue is far more complex than simple question of how to define one term. This complex issue cannot be resolved by any organization clarifying its definition of basic income. These two questions identify a family of up to nine closely-related concepts have been and will continue to be used in the discussion of policy options along the lines of an unconditional cash payment. The discussion needs language that will allow people on all sides of the controversies behind these two questions to clearly discuss all options. That means we need not one but several terms. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to identify the various concepts that need to be clearly identified. We need to start thinking about nonpejorative terms for the members of this family of concepts so that people on all sides of the relevant issues can share the terminology they need to have fruitful discussion. A true resolution is better found through dialogue with people on all sides of the issues rather than by the unilateral declaration of people on one side or the other.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Basic Income Studies<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bis-2024-0021" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bis-2024-0021</a></p>
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identifier_str_mv 10.1515/bis-2024-0021
network_acronym_str Manara2
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oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/30094927
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spelling The Debate Over the Definition of Basic IncomeKarl Widerquist (19757040)Human societyPolicy and administrationPolitical scienceSociologyPhilosophy and religious studiesHistory and philosophy of specific fieldsbasic incomedéfinitionguaranteed incomemeans-tested grantthe definition of basic income<p dir="ltr">The basic income movement is in the midst of a substantial internal debate about the definition of basic income. The current debate focuses mostly on two questions: (1) Should the definition be restricted to a payment that is uniform with respect to income (a non-means-tested grant delivered to high- and low-income people alike)? (2) Should the definition include a threshold such as one stipulating that the grant is large enough to live on? Although this article recommends keeping the current definition in place, its central point is not whether one definition is best but that the definitional issue is far more complex than simple question of how to define one term. This complex issue cannot be resolved by any organization clarifying its definition of basic income. These two questions identify a family of up to nine closely-related concepts have been and will continue to be used in the discussion of policy options along the lines of an unconditional cash payment. The discussion needs language that will allow people on all sides of the controversies behind these two questions to clearly discuss all options. That means we need not one but several terms. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to identify the various concepts that need to be clearly identified. We need to start thinking about nonpejorative terms for the members of this family of concepts so that people on all sides of the relevant issues can share the terminology they need to have fruitful discussion. A true resolution is better found through dialogue with people on all sides of the issues rather than by the unilateral declaration of people on one side or the other.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Basic Income Studies<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bis-2024-0021" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bis-2024-0021</a></p>2024-12-17T09:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1515/bis-2024-0021https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_Debate_Over_the_Definition_of_Basic_Income/30094927CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/300949272024-12-17T09:00:00Z
spellingShingle The Debate Over the Definition of Basic Income
Karl Widerquist (19757040)
Human society
Policy and administration
Political science
Sociology
Philosophy and religious studies
History and philosophy of specific fields
basic income
définition
guaranteed income
means-tested grant
the definition of basic income
status_str publishedVersion
title The Debate Over the Definition of Basic Income
title_full The Debate Over the Definition of Basic Income
title_fullStr The Debate Over the Definition of Basic Income
title_full_unstemmed The Debate Over the Definition of Basic Income
title_short The Debate Over the Definition of Basic Income
title_sort The Debate Over the Definition of Basic Income
topic Human society
Policy and administration
Political science
Sociology
Philosophy and religious studies
History and philosophy of specific fields
basic income
définition
guaranteed income
means-tested grant
the definition of basic income