Freakonomics Radio Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income? (Update)
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Sep 17, 2025 Evelyn Forget, an economist from the University of Manitoba known for her research on poverty and health, discusses the merits of guaranteed basic income (GBI). She reflects on the Canadian Mincome experiment, revealing how it improved health and education outcomes. The conversation navigates the contentious debates surrounding GBI, especially in the context of technological job displacement. Forget also prompts listeners to rethink the nature of work and the necessity of a safety net in today's economy.
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AI As A Second Machine Age
- Brynjolfsson argues AI is beginning to replace cognitive tasks and could be as disruptive as the Industrial Revolution.
- This could raise living standards but also risk massive job evaporation for many workers.
UBI Appeals Across Ideologies
- A universal basic income (UBI) is rare but experimented with worldwide and can be both left and right appealing.
- It can serve as a permanent safety net and also simplify or replace complex welfare programs.
Dauphin's Mincome Experiment
- The Canadian Mincome experiment in Dauphin offered a minimum income to about 30% of town residents in the 1970s.
- A family of four got about the equivalent of $18,000 today as a supplement to existing benefits.
