UBI between the labor market, automation and public finances

This article provides an in-depth analysis of contemporary labor market transformations, focusing on the gig economy and increasing automation. The authors expose the regulatory arbitrage mechanisms employed by digital platforms, which lead to the dismantling of traditional employee protections and the precarization of employment. The text provides a detailed discussion of the concept of an Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) as a potential response to structural challenges, contrasting it with the negative income tax (NIT) model. The analysis also encompasses fiscal aspects, proposing new sources of financing, such as a robot tax and consumption taxes. The overall analysis sheds light on the process of privatizing profits while simultaneously socializing the costs of social protection, pointing to the need to redefine the role of the state in the age of an algorithm-driven economy.