ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses universal basic income in relation to precarious work and social inequalities. It describes the inequalities experienced by those who suffer from some of the adverse economic effects of neoliberalism – such as precarious workers who are subject to insecure, unprotected and poorly paid working conditions. Drawing on Guy Standing’s work The Precariat: A New Dangerous Class, this chapter explores some of the problems of precarious and insecure forms of employment by looking at various examples. It shows how a universal basic income can tackle social inequality and provide new opportunities. This chapter also addresses the role of technology and automation, by drawing on what Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee call the ‘Second Machine Age’. By analysing the effects of precarious work in particular, this chapter shows how a universal basic income can provide a safety net for modern day capitalism, providing economic and social security for individuals, families and communities.
