Description
Book SynopsisThis innovative book provides the first in-depth analysis of participatory income and its potential role in countering endemic poverty and unemployment in high-income countries. Heikki Hiilamo reviews the concept of basic income and specific basic income experiments before presenting participatory income as a viable alternative in the fight against poverty.
Highly topical, chapters explore pressing issues such as the effects of automation on the future of work and the links between social protection and eco-social transition. Putting forward the argument that any reform of social assistance should continue to enforce reciprocity with reduced means-testing, Hiilamo explores the practical advantages of the participation income model in reducing poverty and developing an eco-social welfare model.
Tackling one of the most heated current debates in social policy, this book will be a key resource for scholars and students in this field, particularly those with a focus on welfare and labour economics, labour policy and the sociology of work. Its use of examples and case studies will also benefit practitioners and policy makers.
Trade Review‘As Research Professor at the National Institute for Health and Welfare and Professor of Social Policy at the University of Helsinki, Heikki Hiilamo has an extensive research background on subjects related to health and social security as well as basic income, illustrated by a wide range of academic contributions. Hiilamo’s interdisciplinary approach, comprehensive analysis, and forward-looking perspectives make this work a signi?cant contribution to the ?eld. Researchers and academics interested in these subjects will ?nd this book bene?cial in shaping new perspectives not only on basic income but also on more radical social protection reforms.’ -- Alger Kurti, European Journal of Social Security
‘A quarter of a century ago Tony Atkinson suggested participation income as a key policy instrument for recalibrating struggling European welfare states. It has taken 25 years for a leading policy scholar to produce the first book-length discussion of the proposal, its merits and how to make it work in contemporary welfare systems. Building on both theoretical and empirical insights — and many years of experience as one of Europe’s leading policy scholars — Heikki Hiilamo has written a book that is as astute as it is topical. At a time when welfare states are figuring out how to deal with the societal ravages of a pandemic crisis, participation income is an idea that needs to be given due attention — and Heikki Hiilamo has written the book that tells us how and why.’ -- Jurgen De Wispelaere, Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Latvia
Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Introduction to digital transformation and social policy 2. Machine beats man – prospects of paid work 3. Other existing challenges 4. Conditionality and unconditionality as strategies to prevent labour market exclusion 5. Lessons from basic income experiments 6. Definition of participation income 7. Criticisms of participation income 8. New models for participation income 9. Practical applications of participation income 10. Conclusions: social policies for sustainable societies References Index
