In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, governments are faced with pressing issues as unemployment rises and economies are shut down. In this episode of Future Now, we are tackling the idea of a universal basic income. The idea is simple: direct payments to citizens of any given society. The implementation, however, is not, as questions of inclusion, amount, and funding become paramount.
Universal basic income was already on the rise in the United States, being the talking points of former presidential candidates Andrew Yang and Bernie Sanders. But with the worldwide public health crisis, it has again been elevated, as Spain recently announced plans for a permanent basic income. Could the United States see something similar? In order to learn more, I spoke with Dennis Hoffman, an ASU professor at the W.P. Carey School of Business, who offers an overview of universal basic income in the United States.
Previous Episodes:
Future Now: Biomimicry and how the natural world influences technology
Future Now: How 3D printing is changing the way we build
Future Now: Blockchain and the Internet of Things
Reach the reporter at boversto@asu.edu and follow on Twitter @boversto_asu
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