Basic Income in Korea and Beyond: Social, Economic, and Theological Perspectives

Description

This book shows that basic income is a powerful tool for realizing economic justice in our modern society. Through an interdisciplinary investigation of basic income in Korea, involving theological and social scientific perspectives, the book covers the topic of basic income on an academic basis, an economic basis, and in terms of its institutionalization potential. Although modern society is a global one, centered on the economic ideology of neo-liberalism, the negative effects of social polarization caused by this are quite severe. It is also urgent to come up with alternative solutions to the problems of labor reduction and wage labor. Moreover, the expansion of productivity through collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence also presents a challenge. An interdisciplinary study on the meaning and restructuring of labor is therefore needed. This book traces themes supporting the concept of basic income appearing in the Old and New Testaments, as well as precedents relating to basic income in the context of capitalism in the thought of the Reformers. Within the framework of Christian ethics, the book looks at the ideological basis for basic income and its applicability to the current situation in order to pursue economic justice. Additionally, the book examines the practical feasibility and rationale for basic income by discussing the economics of basic income financing and the political economy implications for how it can be applied to real politics. Preface Contents List of Contributors List of Figures List of Tables 1 Introduction 1 Goal and Range of Research 2 Research Methodology and Comparison with Preceding Research 2.1 Research Methodology 2.2 Literature Review 2.3 Basic Income in Korea 2.4 Content of Research 2.5 The Significance of the Study Part I Biblical Implication Regarding Basic Income 2 Two Foundations of the Theory of Basic Income: Natural Rights and Biblical Laws 1 Introduction 2 The Constitution of the Republic of Korea and Its Stated Economic Democratization 3 “A Social State” Summoned by the COVID-19 Pandemic 4 Thomas Paine’s Proposal of Basic Income 4.1 Contemporary Proponents of Basic Income 4.2 Paine’s Idea of Agrarian Justice vis-à-vis John Locke’s Idea of Agrarian Law 4.3 Thomas Paine’s Agrarian Justice as Basis for Basic Income 5 The Biblical Foundation of Basic Income—Land Theology in the Hebrew Bible 5.1 Three Tenets of the Hebrew Bible’s Land Theology and Its Sociopolitical Implications 5.2 Just Use of Land as a Test Stone of Israel’s Covenantal Loyalty to God 5.3 Deuteronomy 15:1–11 and the Universal Rights of the People of Israel to Land 6 Conclusion Bibliography 3 A Reflection for “Anyone Unwilling to Work” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) from the Perspective of Basic Income 1 Preface 2 Methodological Premise for Reflection 3 The World Behind the Text 3.1 Economic Situation of “Anyone Unwilling to Work” 3.2 Concern for the Poor to “Anyone Unwilling to Work” 3.3 The Imperial Situation of “Anyone Unwilling to Work” 4 The World Within the Text 4.1 Economic Independence in Paul’s Epistles and Acts 4.2 Economic Solidarity in Paul’s Epistles and Acts 4.3 Economic Substitution in Paul's Epistles and Acts 4.4 “Anyone Unwilling to Work” in 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12 5 The World in Front of the Text 6 Conclusion References Part II Church Historical, Ethical and Feminist Theological Approach on Basic Income 4 Basic Income Based on Luther and Calvin’s Economic Thoughts: Focusing on the Jubilee Thought 1 Introduction 2 Ownership for the Sake of Neighbor Love and Resolving the Poverty at the Institutional Level 3 A Righteous Economic Thought Based on Equity and Justice 4 Restitution of the Rent Income and Unearned Income 5 Jubilee Thoughts Appearing in Calvin’s Economic Thoughts 6 Conclusion References 5 The Necessity and Directivity of Basic Income from the Perspective of Christian Ethics: Focusing on the Ethics of the Other 1 Introduction 2 South Korean Society’s Critical Evaluation of the Social Contribution of Christianity 3 Other-Centeredness Revealed in the Ownership from the View of the Bible and Church Traditions 4 The Ethics of the Other, Basic Income, and Freedom 5 Concluding Reflection References 6 A Discourse on Basic Income from the Perspectives of Reformed Spirituality and Feminist Theology 1 Introduction 2 Basic Income from Reformed Principles and Feminist Perspectives 2.1 The Swiss Reformation and Its Principles 2.1.1 Background of the Swiss Reformation Related to the Mercenary System of the Sixteenth Century 2.1.2 Commonwealth and Labor from the Perspective of Zwingli 2.1.3 From Charity to Public Assistance and Universal Welfare 2.2 Basic Income Discourse from a Feminist Theological Perspective 2.2.1 The Situation of Gender Inequality in Labor and Basic Income 2.2.2 Rethinking Reformed Theological Perception on Labor and Basic Income 3 Closing Remarks References Part III Socio Ethical Suggestion and Social Scientist Approaches Toward Realization of Basic Income 7 A Social Ethical Concept of Ecological-Oriented Basic Income-Based on the Plan of Income Distribution at the Level of National Economy 1 Preface 2 Ecological and Social Justice 2.1 The Relationship Between Social and Ecological Justice from the Perception of Energy-Material Cycle Between Ecosystem and Economic System 2.2 Economic Democracy as an Institutional Basis for Realizing Social and Ecological Justice 3 The Fundamental Problem of the Green New Deal 3.1 The Green New Deal of the Korean Government 3.2 Green New Deals Promoted in the European Union and the United States 4 A Concept on Linking Ecosystem Conservation and Basic Income 4.1 Model for Combination of Ecosystem Conservation and Basic Income 4.2 Distribution of Surplus Value of Capital 4.3 Basic Principles of Income Distribution 4.4 About Political Implications of Social and Ecological Income Distribution 4.5 The Legitimacy of Basic Income with Ecological Orientation 5 Conclusion References 8 Left and Right Basic Income Models and an Alternative: The Variable Basic Income 1 Introduction: Three Basic Income Models 2 Left Basic Income Model and Sufficient Payment 2.1 Basic Income to Guarantee “Real Freedom for All” 2.2 Influence of “The Theory of Sufficient Basic Income” on Korea 3 Right Basic Income Model and Welfare Cost Reduction 3.1 Milton Friedman’s Negative Income Tax 3.2 Oh Se-Hoon’s Safe Income and Yoo Seung-Min’s Fair Income 4 The Orthodox Basic Income Model and the Variable Basic Income 4.1 Basic Income Theories of Thomas Paine, Thomas Spence, and Henry George 4.2 Orthodox Basic Income Model and Its Cases: The Variable Basic Income 4.3 Basic Income Theory in Korea in Light of the Orthodox Model 5 Conclusion References 9 A Pro-outsider Policy? Why an Unconditional Basic Income Could Contribute to Tackling the Causes and Effects of Labor Market Dualization 1 Introduction 2 Giving More Freedom to All, Including Outsiders 3 Partial UBI: A Non-workfarist Way to Promote Access to Activity 4 Can We Learn Something from UBI Experiments? 5 Conclusion References 10 Conclusion: Summary and Suggestion of Research Results Survey Report on Christian Public Opinion on Basic Income Survey Overview Survey Background Survey Purpose Survey Structure Survey Content Survey Respondent Demographics Survey Results Perception on Basic Income Religious Background Perception of Implementation and Financing of Basic Income Opinion on Implementing Basic Income Based on Religious Beliefs Survey Results Summary Index