Recent research by Naomi Lightman (1) of the University of Toronto paints a stark picture of the earnings divide between health and social care professionals, and non-professionals working in the same sector, in English-speaking (read “liberal economy”) countries. Lightman looked at the distribution of employment in health and social care in The USA, UK, Ireland, … More Insiders and Outsiders in Health and Social Care
By Terrance Hunsley The Government of Canada discussion paper, Towards a Poverty Reduction Strategy, asks for suggestions on how the federal government can align its poverty reduction efforts better with efforts of provinces, territories, municipalities and communities. It also solicits suggestions on how it can encourage ongoing dialogue with other governments, community organizations, businesses and … More Proposal for a Canadian National Goal for Poverty Reduction 2017-2027
by Terrance Hunsley There has been a lot of discussion about the need for a basic income of some form, in Canada as well as several other countries. Many proponents of reform call it a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG), and it seems that several governments are considering it. I have already gone on record … More What could be achieved with a basic Income Guarantee and how could one be put in place?
Editor’s note: The following submission, reprinted with permission of the Maytree Foundation, tackles a subject of growing importance and growing potential in the affirmation of social, economic and cultural rights, and the strengthening of democratic governance. Recommendations on strengthening the capacity of local governments to be effective in delivering on the obligations of the … More Strengthening Local Government Capacity in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
by Robin Boadway We are posting this article with permission of the author and the Basic Income Guarantee Network, where it was originally published. It is a clear and simple explanation of a possible route to a guaranteed basic income, based on federal direct action. The pursuit of a basic income guarantee (BIG) is … More Refundable tax credits and the path to a basic income guarantee
The article below, which is reprinted with permission of the author, is a working paper currently being carried on the website (USBIG.net) of the US Basic Income Guarantee network. It is to be published in a new book being edited by Richard Pereira. Financing Basic Income in Switzerland – state of the debate before the … More Financing Basic Income in Switzerland
Politudes Commentary by Terrance Hunsley Since the election of the Trudeau government, there has been increased interest in the concept of basic income (also known as guaranteed income, and negative income tax). The confluence of liberal governments in Ottawa and seven provinces, as well as two NDP governments, suggests that a political consensus may be … More Basic Income: Lets Not do a Pilot Project
The Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group of a global network of evaluation scientists (the Cochrane Collaboration) recently completed a systematic review of community and in clinic research to determine if giving cholesterol – lowering drugs (statins, specifically) to older people who were considered at risk of dementia but still with normal cognition, would prevent the … More Research Chronicles disappointments in Prevention of Dementia – Cochrane Collaboration
A recently completed Cochrane Collaboration systematic review led by the Schizophrenia Group, was unable to come up with enough high quality evidence to indicate whether professional advice provided to people with serious mental illness is effective in reducing smoking among that population. However they did point out that people with serious mental illness are about … More Cochrane Review of Smoking and Mental Illness: More Questions than Answers
By Allison Christians This is a reprint from Tax Analysts of a presentation by Prof. Allison Christians (McGill Law). Politudes published an earlier paper by Prof Christians entitled “Challenging Fiscal Havens and Tax Avoidance by Global Corporations” (see recent posts). This article shows a kind of flipside, the heavy hand of US tax law for … More Understanding the Accidental American: Tina’s Story
