…And Justice For All

answered by Alexey Nefedov

The majority of libertarian arguments regarding UBI were presented in his 2016 article by economist and LPR member Yuri Kuznetsov. In it, he shows that replacing the system of conditional benefits with an unconditional income eliminates the stagnation poverty trap and increases the overall efficiency of the redistributive system by reducing bureaucracy.

Ekaterina Schulmann also touched upon UBI and the fears of neo-Luddites in one of her programs on Echo of Moscow. She pointed out that those countries with poor institutions should be more concerned about mass unemployment due to robotization. They won’t get any UBI; instead, they will face a transition to subsistence living. Thus, Ekaterina Mikhailovna gives citizens a simple recipe: engage more in politics so that they are perceived as political subjects.

In Russia, on the one hand, there are poor institutions, and on the other—a strong demand for social welfare. If global robotization suddenly begins, it is more likely that several million more public sector jobs will be created here than UBI will be introduced. Public employees are too valuable for securing administrative resources during elections and similar matters.

And here are arguments for UBI from another LPR member, Mikhail Pozharsky. UBI means not only less bureaucracy but also a common set of rules for everyone, which is a crucial part of liberal doctrine.

However, both Kuznetsov and Pozharsky still remain within the framework of minarchism. Uniform rules are imposed on everyone, and we shall see how long this model can last. Furthermore, the so-called unconditional income still remains conditional, since the condition for its payment is citizenship of the country that established UBI for its citizens.

Can ancap improve a society where unemployment is at 90%? Yes, if unemployment is caused by state regulation, and otherwise people are offered work and are willing to take it. No, if work is not needed by ninety percent of people because they already have enough to live on.

Will there be UBI under ancap? Yes, if during the dismantling of the state, those who contributed to the UBI fund decide to continue doing so on a voluntary basis. Is this likely? Yes, if it is not burdensome and brings respect and prestige. What should be done to bring this bright future closer? Either increase the productivity of one’s labor or improve one’s ability to show respect and prestige. One can combine these strategies.