BBI #164: Basic Income 3 — Prehistory: Public Assistance and Social Insurance

We continue our discussion of the 2017 book "Basic Income: A Radical Proposal for a Free Society and a Sane Economy" by Philippe Van Parijs and Yannick Vanderborght.

https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Income-Radical-Proposal-Society/dp/0674237463/

This week, we discuss Chapter 3: Prehistory: Public Assistance and Social Insurance. In the past, governments have developed "public assistance" programs specifically targeted to support the poor as well as social insurance systems in which people pool their resources to support each other during retirement or in times of unemployment.

Where does the idea of basic income fit into the historical context of social protection schemes such as public assistance and social insurance? To what extent does basic income attempt to solve the same kinds of problems?

BBI #87: Child Benefit
https://youtu.be/3b-dGgGLArk

BBI #118: Social Safety Net
https://anchor.fm/bostonbasicincome/episodes/118--Social-Safety-Net-eje78f

BBI #135: The Welfare System
https://anchor.fm/bostonbasicincome/episodes/135--The-Welfare-System-epl07f

By default, audience cameras and microphones will remain disabled. To ask a question, type it in the Zoom chat.

If you'd like to ask your question aloud, also click the "Raise Hand" button on the "Participants" tab. The hosts will unmute you when it's your turn.

The discussion will be streamed live at this URL:
https://www.youtube.com/bostonbasicincome/live

It will also be available in podcast form in the following days:
https://anchor.fm/bostonbasicincome

Image on Wikimedia Commons from the National Library of Wales
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:To_Builders_and_Contractors_1829.jpg)