By: Jack Smith IV
June 10, 2015
Imagine a world where robots perform the vast majority of our jobs. Food is factory-farmed by automated machines and delivered to us by fleets of drones and self-driving trucks. Our houses are built by giant, roving 3-D printers. We’re free to simply pursue our passions and explore. Now ask yourself: How is anyone going to make any money?
For many futurists and economic theorists, the answer is a “basic income,” a wage you receive from the government just for being human.
The idea isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.
Even if you’re not working a blue-collar gig, you could be affected, because automation has the potential to damage the job market everywhere it touches.
What is basic income? Basic income isn’t a conditional welfare program — rather, it’s a check that’s paid to individual adults instead of households, regardless of other sources of income and with no requirement for work.