In the weekend of 26 and 27 October 2019, people in 25 countries all over the world were demonstrating for a basic income. The Basic Income Association organized The Dutch demonstration in Amsterdam. With the demonstration they want more attention for a basic income in the Netherlands. Bas Jacobs, Sijbren Cnossen Professor of Public Economics at Erasmus School of Economics, finds the basic income one of the worst ways of redistribution.
The basic income is a guaranteed income which every citizen receives without compensation. If the basic income would be as high as the welfare benefit and all current benefits and allowances are abolished, we are left with a deficit of around 15 milliard euros. The Basic Income Association does not know where this money should come from, but they suggest to raise the income taxes or the VAT-tariff.
According to Jacobs, a basic income would apply to everyone in our society, also the Bill Gates’ and Marck Zuckerbergs of this world. 'In this way you would be redistributing money to people who don’t need it, at the expense of the people who actually do need it.' Jacobs also finds that the advocate have some good arguments. He sees possibilities in experimenting with the requirements and rules for social welfare.
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The full article of Metronieuws, 28 October 2019, can be downloaded above.