Basic income versus the Job Guarantee: a review of the issues

Two novel schemes have been advocated to cure the problem of persistent unemployment and income insecurity in developed economies, namely Basic Income and the Job Guarantee. Human rights appear to be protected under a Basic Income system, but its impact on job creation, skill development, the wage structure, investment, employment and living standards is problematic. On the other hand, the Job Guarantee provides economic security to all individuals through access to meaningful work with opportunities for skill acquisition. The Job Guarantee may represent a step in the transition to an unconditional Basic Income, following the ongoing growth of labour productivity and the reassessment of what constitutes work.