Basic income’s appeal today is similar to its roots in 18th-century England – it’s a way to compensate people for a common good taken for private gain

Today’s basic income proponents say cash payments would be good for everyone. In the 1790s, the idea’s inventor argued something else: It was owed to everyone.

By: Will Glovinsky, Binghamton University, State University of New York, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 30, 2026

Words: 1,641

Last Updated: 2 months, 1 week ago

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By Will Glovinsky, Binghamton University, State University of New York

A story has been going around about artificial intelligence for the past decade: At some point, AI advances, robots and self-driving cars will throw countless people out of work.

The rich folks who control AI companies will get richer. Most other people’s fortunes will decline as their skills lose value and they fail to get new jobs. To prevent the U.S. from suffering mass …

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