Welfare and Basic Income: Theoretical Implication in The Slemrod / Work-Leisure Model, Graphical Interpretation

Abstract

The present study addresses the problem of basic income (BI), in its two varieties, as universal BI (UnBI) and as unconditional BI (UBI), with a view to the effect on individuals' well-being. For this purpose, Slemrod's general model was adapted and a graphical interpretation based on the standard leisure-time model was made. The use of the specific toolkit of ordinal utility theory makes it possible to identify an unexpected "externalities" - the emergence of a personal and social dilemma that generates crowding out-effect, which is able to eliminate the beneficial effects on the well-being of the introduction of BI into any of its forms, whether universal or unconditional. In this context, a proposal has been made (de lege ferenda), on the adaptation of the structure of the tax system that must incorporate the taxation of robotic labor: to successfully implement the BI conception.