The Ecological Case for Universal Basic Income Dr. Jim Mulvale University of Manitoba NABIG Congress, Hamilton ON 25 May 2018

Ecological Case for UBI UBI is a necessary (but not sufficient) step if we are to achieve two fundamental preconditions for an ecologically sustainable economy in a just and equal society: Ending overall economic growth Achieving a radical redistribution of income and wealth

We must end our addiction to economic growth as the presumed basis of prosperity and economic betterment of the middle and working classes, and as the path out of poverty  The “full employment economy” was a foundational assumption and aspiration (never achieved) of Keynesian welfare state regimes

Public policies required for a green economy in a just and democratic society universal basic income adequate and affordable housing local food security as an alternative to global agribusiness labour market restructuring for green jobs and care work

Public policies required for a green economy in a just and democratic society (cont’d) public transportation that is low/no carbon zero (overall) population growth land-use planning and habitat protection ecological education green health care and prevention / health promotion strategies

What sort of UBI do we need? For a green economy and a just society, our medium- to long-term goal as the basic income movement must be a ‘thick’ (truly universal and adequate) version of UBI