Oshan Jarow: UBI and the Capitalist Production of Consciousness
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My guest today is Oshan Jarow. Oshan spent the last five years learning about economics, universal basic income, and consciousness. In his essay, Universal Basic Income and the Capitalist Production of Consciousness, he ties those topics together in an interesting and educational way.
In this episode, Oshan and I discuss the underlying reasons for UBI, ways to pay for UBI, common critiques, and much more. Oshan is the most articulate, informed, thoughtful, and open minded person I've ever talked to about UBI. Even if you think it's a foolish idea, this conversation is worth a listen. It may not change your mind, but it will certainly open it.
Selected links from the show:
Show notes:
1:04 - Oshan's background with and interest in UBI
7:25 - Why Oshan had to go to India to learn about economics
9:25 - The shift from profits first to people first
10:31 - Oshan's main argument for UBI
15:31 - Commodification of time
20:55 - How does UBI help the middle class?
28:10 - Why not require people to work for the money?
32:52 - What keeps people from demanding continuously higher amounts?
34:59 - The difference between negative income tax and universal basic income
41:00 - How to pay for UBI
46:35 - Discussion on a wealth tax
49:55 - Why isn't UBI a unifying policy?
53:35 - The Free Rider Problem
57:55 - Ideal work week length
1:00:54 - Oshan's most gifted book
1:03:15 - The new habit that has most improved Oshan's life
1:05:33 - Oshan's advice to recent college grads
1:07:27 - How to connect with Oshan
