Abstract

Cash transfers as a response to poverty and unemployment have moved to mainstream political practice. From global south developmental policy to pandemic payments, there is growing concern with relying on employment for income. Many on the left have been sceptical of, and at times opposed to, such transfers, instead urging direct state provisioning, improved employment, or economic transformation beyond the state. Here, we develop an alternative position, rooted in cautious optimism about the open-ended implications of cash transfers. We consider the possibility that providing a durable, redistributive universal basic income might enable escape from unjust economic relations, underwrite diverse economies, and free time to expand democratic practice. We frame this not as an assured outcome but as a possibility, one those concerned with radical, anti-kyriarchal politics might engage in creating.

摘要

作为对贫困和失业的回应的现金转移支付已经成为主流政治实践。从全球南方发展政策到流行病支付，人们越来越担心依靠就业获得收入。许多左翼人士一直对这种转移持怀疑态度，有时甚至反对这种转移，而是敦促国家直接提供资金、改善就业或超越国家的经济转型。在这里，我们提出了另一种立场，基于对现金转移的无限影响的谨慎乐观态度。我们考虑了这样一种可能性，即提供持久的、可再分配的普遍基本收入可能有助于摆脱不公正的经济关系，支持多样化的经济，并有空闲时间来扩大民主实践。我们认为这不是一个确定的结果，而是一种可能性，一个与激进有关的人，