TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION

Over the last several years technology has disrupted industries. There is speculation that truck drivers to surgeons could be out of work due to automation and robotics (Roosevelt Institute, 2016).

One example where communication technology has disrupted an industry is the US Postal Service. USPS is currently the second-largest US civilian employer (Carbaugh & Tenerelli, 2011, p.129).

Because of combined impact of email and social media, traditional and advertising mail has decreased dramatically (Geddes, 2005, p.221).

Over the last 15 years our government has evaluated modernizing USPS, and studied European models where government mail service was abolished (Carbaugh & Tennerelli, pp. 140-143).

This is just one example of how communication technology can displace workers. Others include algorithmically generated news articles (Williams, 2014).

Service sector jobs replacing those lost don't offer the same living wages or benefits (Roosevelt Institute, 2016, p. 5).

Several futurists, entrepreneurs, and governments have been researching universal basic income (Roosevelt Institute, 2016, p.1).

Basic income is a guaranteed minimum income paid directly to citizens. It can take different forms, and even be a negative tax (Roosevelt Institute, 2016, pp. 5-8).

Nobel prize-winning libertarian economist, Milton Friedman, and Republican President Richard Nixon both advocated for basic income in the '60's and '70's (Foget, 2011, pp. 284-285).

The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is an example of basic income created by investment of profits from a finite natural resource, oil (Roosevelt Institute, 2016, pp. 7-8).

From Africa to Latin America to North America, basic income experiments yield similar results.

RESULTS OF BASIC INCOME

• Improved health
• Higher school enrollments
• Higher graduation rates
• Decrease in age by which women have first child.
• (Foget, Peden, & Strobel, 2013, paras. 21-47).

North American research revealed decreases in productivity were attributed to women taking adequate time off work post-partum and young people focusing on education (Foget, 2011, pp. 285-287).

While some European countries consider basic income tests, the larger challenge remains policy that satisfies national mood and winds of politics (Koistinen & Perkio, 2014, pp. 28-30.)

Aside from moving to a region testing basic income, the only other way to explore ideas around basic income remain rooted in entertainment and popular culture.

In the meantime, feel free to review the citations for links to research about basic income, which may become a necessity based upon our quickly advancing technology.