Universal Income has been advocated for some time now, but also implemented in different contexts and under a diverse set of objectives. It has surely proven its value in cases of bankrupt economies as it keeps afloat people living in poverty. But this is not the only successful use case that justifies its implementation.
One thing that developed economies has learnt is that education is the most important investment that may be undertaken, in order to boost the development of an economy along side a society. U.S.A. run the G.I. programme in the post W.W.II era demonstrating amazing results. Unfortunately, the wealthy elites who run the business class in those developed economies, for reasons I will not go into here, have decided the cost of educating should be the responsibility of the working class.
As a result, access to it, depending on the set up of each country is limited, slowing down progress. Outsourcing those educating costs to individuals is a really bad idea, only meant to sustain nepotism and the privileges of a few people. It holds the advancement of humanity slave to bondage but also prejudice and other malign concepts.
I have been always supporting initiatives like edx.org, or Cloudera, but they have strayed from the path of bringing affordable education to those living in poverty, therefore condemning them to life in poverty. Prisons is not the only incarceration available. Try to make a living on a $3/hour wage in a developed or developing economy... Inflation is not your friend, neither purchase power.
While there is little to no chance those initiatives rethink their approach, the number of people participating to those Open Courses demonstrates the utility, online learning can provide. If we add infamous A.I. into the mix then we may produce really low cost open courses along a mechanism to assist decision making on what type of courses are necessary each given point in time.
This is where, Universal Income may be introduced to play a significant role. Beside the amount anyone may receive, there should be a State initiative to grant a lump sum for each open course an individual successfully attends. This option could and should be available to not just those receiving Universal Income, but also a few income classes above it, until a certain income threshold where it is considered as not necessary anymore.
The examinations for each course should take place in actual examinations centers around each country, so that the credits earned are valid under the current framework regarding distance learning. All States have extensive infrastructure they may take advantage of in relation to examinations.
Blockchain may play a role into this concept either with the help of a stable coin or by storing the earned credits and certifications on it, or both. Other innovative ways to do may be devised along the way.
Education is a great highway to entrepreneurship not just employment, and currently there are plenty of courses to assist anyone grasp where to start as an entrepreneur. Course by course, anyone will be able to build his way out his poverty incarceration.
