The evolution of the universal basic income

KIM SEUNG-JUNG
The author is a professor of archaeology at the University of Toronto.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said on May 23, “Basic income is an inevitable system in the age of artificial intelligence.” He reiterated the welfare policy he has been championing.

The “universal basic income” first appeared in Thomas More’s 1516 novel “Utopia.” It is a government welfare policy that universally gives a certain amount of money equally to all members of society, regardless of their assets and income, to allow everyone to enjoy a basic lifestyle.

Lee’s proposal for a 250,000 won ($183) cash handout to every citizen to help ease people’s deepening economic hardship is also based on this concept. Many believe that basic income is an idealistic policy that is hard to implement in reality. At present, there is no country that has universal basic income entirely in place.

Nevertheless, it has been partially implemented as a pilot program in Britain, Canada, Brazil and some parts of Europe over the past few decades. Boosted especially by the positive effects of the one-time payment of emergency funds given out in some 90 countries and regions in response to Covid-19, voices advocating basic income are growing.

One example is the “Freedom Dividend” actively pushed by New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang in 2021. He made a radical proposal of giving $1,000 a month to all citizens to prepare for the possibility of one-third of American citizens losing jobs in the age of artificial intelligence.

The concept of a universal basic income is generally known to be a product of the Age of Enlightenment. But a similar policy was implemented in ancient Rome. Julius Caesar, the father of autocratic politics, doled out 100 denarii in silver coins to all Roman citizens at a victory ceremony in 46 BC, and another 75 denarii was given out according to his will.

Emperor Trajan is also known for various welfare policies. Any Roman citizen could be paid 650 denarii upon application.

The change in times led to changes in government policies. But the question is how effectively you can control the side effects.