Smart Talk: Smart Talk with Dr. Charles Clark: Universal Basic Income and How We Could Afford it

In this interview, Aleksandr Gevorkyan of the Henry George School speaks with Dr. Charles Clark, professor of Economics at St. John’s University on Universal Basic Income in the light of Catholic social thought. In Clark’s view, there isn’t such a thing as Catholic economic policy and UBI is not a panacea. However and to the extent that it strengthens our social safety nets, UBI is in line with Catholic teachings which advocate equality, greater social mobility and inclusion. According to Pr. Clark, we could pay for a basic income without adversely affecting market forces by equitably distributing wealth that is collectively generated by society and natural resource rents.