Utopia for Realists

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Utopia for Realists
Utopia for Realists.png
AuthorRutger Bregman
Audio read by
Original titleGratis geld voor iedereen
TranslatorElizabeth Manton
CountryNetherlands
LanguageDutch
PublisherDe Correspondent
Publication date
November 2016
Media typePrint
Pages288
ISBN978-9082520347
OCLC1039088412

Utopia for Realists: The Case for a Universal Basic Income, Open Borders, and a 15-hour Workweek (alternatively subtitled And How We Can Get There and How We Can Build the Ideal World) is a book by Dutch popular historian Rutger Bregman.[1] It was originally written as articles in Dutch for a virtual journal, De Correspondent, and was since compiled and published,[2] and translated into several languages. It offers a critical proposal that it claims is a practical approach to reconstructing modern society to promote a more productive and equitable life based on three core ideas:

  • a universal and unconditional basic income paid to everybody
  • a short working week of fifteen hours
  • open borders worldwide with the free movement of citizens between all states

Thesis[]

Rationale[]

As a result of the advance of international trade and economic science in recent decades, globalization has radically transformed the traditional social and economic order from smaller, connected nations to a new world economy which, while already demonstrably capable of rescuing millions of people from poverty, could be extended to the entire human species.[3]

However, the new global system unfairly compensates a few rich countries,[4] and, with the progressive substitution of human capital with automation and robotics,[5] has also generated an increase in inequality, both between the investment community and its workforce[6] within the G20 states as well as between developed countries and their developing neighbours.

Justification[]

Each idea is supported by multiple academic studies and anecdotal evidence including numerous success stories. For example, it quotes

Reception[]

In her review for The Independent, Caroline Lucas described the book as a "brilliantly written and unorthodox page-turner."[10]

Writing for The Observer, Will Hutton said, "You may not dream the same dreams as Bregman – but he invites you to take dreaming seriously. For that alone, this book is worth a read."[11]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Rutger Bregman (2017-03-14). Utopia for Realists: How We Can Build the Ideal World. Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group USA. ISBN 978-0316471893.
  2. ^ Harford, Tim (March 9, 2018). "Rutger Bregman: 'Basic income is all about the freedom to say no'". Financial Times. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  3. ^ "World Economic Forum Growth Development Index 2017" (PDF).
  4. ^ OECD:Trade Between Developed And Developing Countries': The Decade Ahead
  5. ^ Robotics and automation, employment, and aging Baby Boomers
  6. ^ "The decline in labor's share of corporate income since 2000 means $535 billion less for workers".
  7. ^ "Nixon's Basic Income Plan". jacobinmag.com.
  8. ^ "A Canadian City Once Eliminated Poverty And Nearly Everyone Forgot". HuffPost Canada. December 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Heinze, Aleksej. "Business will suffer if border crossings between European neighbours are shut". The Conversation.
  10. ^ Lucas, Caroline (March 22, 2017). "Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman review: A brilliantly written and unorthodox page-turner". The Independent. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  11. ^ Hutton, Will (March 13, 2017). "Utopia for Realists: And How We Can Get There by Rutger Bregman – review". The Observer. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
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