"Basic Income vs. Basic Capital"
SAITO Taku
last update: 20151224
Basic Income vs. Basic Capital
SAITO Taku
Abstract:
So far, the idea of "redistribution" immediately means the idea of "income redistribution" in the
main stream of social security debates. In contrast, the shift to "Asset-Based Welfare", which can be observed in
the recent welfare reforms in U.S.A. and U.K., seems to have a background assumption that various assetbuildings
policies for the poor are more effective than the traditional regular-income supplements, though the
latter is still predominate in the current welfare states. This paper inquires the plausibility of this assumption
through, firstly, (1) examining the dispute between Ackerman & Alstott and Van Parijs, which was inspired by
the issue of asset-based redistribution vs. income-based redistribution, and had become one of the central issues
in Basic Income debates, and secondly, (2) evaluating this dispute on the basis of some latest arguments
presented by Asset-Based Welfare supporters.
Keywords: Basic Capital, Asset-Based Welfare, Philippe Van Parijs, Liberal Egalitarianism
REV: 20151224