Current Events > How much is enough for universal income?

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It depends.

It would vary based on housing, utility and grocery prices.

$1500/mo would cover rent for most people

CRON posted...

It would vary based on housing, utility and grocery prices.

1 million dollars then.

Jagr_68 posted...

1 million dollars then.

Be real

In a market economy, I'm not sure it'd work without government controlling the price of essentials (food, housing, utilities) or coming down hard on private enterprises taking advantage of the populace.

You'd have to straight bar profit-only motivated corporations from having any involvement in those areas, at least.

Ideally minimum wage would be a true living wage and UI would equal minimum wage.

That depends on what its supposed to accomplish. If its supposed to be enough to live on if you dont spend a lot on entertainment and such with the expectation that you get a job if you need more, $2000 maybe. I voted that as I was thinking it more likely to happen.

If its just supposed to be enough to live on period, over $3000.

$3000

it would have to be based at least partially on the local cost of living in any particular area. a UBI to keep someone housed and fed in rural areas isn't going to cut it in major metropolitan areas, for instance.

At least 2000, and that's assuming that you also are supposed to get a job and the housing market is fixed somehow.

I voted $1000 assuming people with kids would still get other assistances.

It depends on the cost of living. If we'd do something about price gouging and wealth hording the COL would be pretty low.

That's not likely to happen

It should be enough for a single person to afford a studio apartment, extremely cheap/basic food, basic healthcare (if there's still no Medicare for All, which there should be), plus another 20% for transportation costs, clothing, other stuff.
If it's a family, then enough for like a 2 bedroom apartment and the above for each person.

Basically, it should be just barely enough to survive on, no more. You want nicer home/food/etc... or travel, get a job. Since it's UBI, you keep it if you work.

The amount should be based on median cost of living for the U.S. Higher COL areas like NYC should have to provide supplemental UBI boosts to cover the gap. Basing national UBI on high COL areas is untenable. Can easily become 3x the cost of rural areas, or more.