For centuries, while new technologies have inspired concerns about the future of work, advances have not resulted in mass unemployment. Even as many occupations have become obsolete, new lines of work have arisen in their place. But does the development of artificial intelligence portend something new and different? A recent study by PWC, for example, predicts that up to 38 percent of U.S. jobs are at risk of automation by the early 2030s, with effects being especially pronounced in areas such as transportation and storage, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail. Given the prospect of millions losing their livelihoods due to automation, various business and thought leaders, such as Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, have proposed that policymakers reform the safety net with the implementation of a universal basic income (UBI). Proponents of a UBI have said that it can help ensure economic stability, reduce poverty, and afford greater human freedom, while opponents have warned that it could de-incentivize work, in addition to being unaffordable.

On October 19, the Adam Smith Society sponsored a debate at Dallas’s famed Old Parkland on the resolution, “A universal basic income is necessary in the age of automation.” The debate featured two of the most prominent voices on the idea of UBI: Charles Murray of the American Enterprise Institute and Jared Bernstein from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Moderated by journalist Jared Lindzon, the debate addressed the potential merits and disadvantages of UBI, the future of work, and much more. 

About the Debaters

For the motion:

Charles Murray is the W. H. Brady Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. A political scientist, author, and libertarian, he first came to national attention in 1984 with the publication of “Losing Ground,” which has been credited as the intellectual foundation for the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. His 1994 New York Times bestseller “The Bell Curve” (Free Press, 1994), coauthored with the late Richard J. Herrnstein, sparked heated controversy for its analysis of the role of IQ in shaping America’s class structure. Dr. Murray’s other books include “What It Means to Be a Libertarian” (1997), “Human Accomplishment” (2003), “In Our Hands” (2006), “Real Education” (2008), and the New York Times bestseller “Coming Apart” (2012). His most recent book, “By the People: Rebuilding Liberty Without Permission” (Crown Forum, 2015) urges Americans to stem governmental overreach and use America’s unique civil society to put government back in its place.

Against the motion: 

Jared Bernstein joined the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in May 2011 as a Senior Fellow. From 2009 to 2011, Bernstein was the Chief Economist and Economic Adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the Middle Class, and a member of President Obama's economic team.

Bernstein's areas of expertise include federal and state economic and fiscal policies, income inequality and mobility, trends in employment and earnings, international comparisons, and the analysis of financial and housing markets.He is the author and coauthor of numerous books for both popular and academic audiences, including "Getting Back to Full Employment: A Better Bargain for Working People," "Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed?," nine editions of "The State of Working America," and his latest book, "The Reconnection Agenda: Reuniting Growth and Prosperity." Bernstein has published extensively in various venues, including The New York Times, Washington Post, and the Financial Times. He is an on-air commentator for the cable stations CNBC and MSNBC, contributes to The Washington Post's PostEverything blog, and hosts On The Economy (jaredbernsteinblog.com).

Bernstein holds a PhD in Social Welfare from Columbia University. Read More

Moderated by:

Jared Lindzon is a freelance journalist and public speaker based in Toronto, Canada. His writing focuses on technology, entrepreneurship, politics and the future of work and has been featured in major publications in Canada, the United States and around the world, including Fast Company, Fortune Magazine, Rolling Stone, Politico, the Guardian, the Globe & Mail, and more. 

A sought after public speaker, Mr. Lindzon has led panels and debates with world renowned musicians, business leaders and tech pioneers. He is also a frequent guest and commentator on Toronto's Newstalk 1010 AM radio.  

Mr. Lindzon holds an MA in Journalism and an honors BA in Media Studies from the University of Western Ontario.