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Utopia for Realists: The Case for a Universal Basic Income, Open Borders, and a 15-hour Workweek (alternatively subtitled And How We Can Get There and How We Can Build the Ideal World) is a book by Dutch popular historian Rutger Bregman.[1] It was originally written as articles in Dutch for a virtual journal, De Correspondent, and was since compiled and published,[2] and translated into several languages. It offers a critical proposal that it claims is a practical approach to reconstructing modern society to promote a more productive and equitable life based on three core ideas:
- a universal basic income paid to everybody
- a short working week of fifteen hours
- open borders worldwide with the free movement of citizens between all states
Thesis
Rationale
As a result of the advance of international trade and economic science in recent decades, globalization has radically transformed the traditional social and economic order from smaller, connected nations to a new world economy which, while already demonstrably capable of rescuing millions of people from poverty, could be extended to the entire human species.[3]
However, the new global system unfairly compensates a few rich countries,[4] and, with the progressive substitution of human capital with automation and robotics,[5] has also generated an increase in inequality, both between the investment community and its workforce[6] within the G20 states as well as between developed countries and their developing neighbours.
Justification
Each idea is supported by multiple academic studies and anecdotal evidence including numerous success stories, quoting Richard Nixon's 1968 plan for a basic income for Americans,[7] the Mincome project in the Canadian city of Dauphin, Manitoba, which "eliminated poverty" and reduced hospitalisation rates,[8] and the perceived success of the Schengen Agreement.[9]
Reception
In her review for The Independent, Caroline Lucas described the book as a "brilliantly written and unorthodox page-turner."[10]
Writing for The Observer, Will Hutton said, "You may not dream the same dreams as Bregman – but he invites you to take dreaming seriously. For that alone, this book is worth a read."[11]
See also
- Critical theory
- Disclosing New Worlds
- Distribution of wealth
- Ethical socialism
- Georgism
- Income distribution
- Protestant work ethic
- Social justice
- Utopian architecture
- Utopian socialism
References
- ^ Rutger Bregman (2017-03-14). Utopia for Realists: How We Can Build the Ideal World. Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group USA. ISBN 978-0316471893.
- ^ Harford, Tim (March 9, 2018). "Rutger Bregman: 'Basic income is all about the freedom to say no'". Financial Times. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- ^ "World Economic Forum Growth Development Index 2017" (PDF).
- ^ OECD:Trade Between Developed And Developing Countries': The Decade Ahead
- ^ Robotics and automation, employment, and aging Baby Boomers
- ^ "The decline in labor's share of corporate income since 2000 means $535 billion less for workers".
- ^ "Nixon's Basic Income Plan". jacobinmag.com.
- ^ "A Canadian City Once Eliminated Poverty And Nearly Everyone Forgot". HuffPost Canada. December 23, 2014.
- ^ Heinze, Aleksej (4 September 2015). "Business will suffer if border crossings between European neighbours are shut". The Conversation.
- ^ Lucas, Caroline (March 22, 2017). "Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman review: A brilliantly written and unorthodox page-turner". The Independent. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- ^ Hutton, Will (March 13, 2017). "Utopia for Realists: And How We Can Get There by Rutger Bregman – review". The Observer. Retrieved February 22, 2019.