Richard Branson Says He Supports Universal Basic Income, Robots Taking Jobs

Billionaire and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson is the latest businessman to say that universal basic income (UBI) can help people as jobs are lost to automation. In a post, Branson detailed his experience is Finland, where the country is already experimenting with UBI. Since January, Finland has been paying those who are unemployed €560, part of its two-year experiment on 2,000 Finns aged 25-58. The money, which replaces previous benefits, is paid even if the individual finds a job, in an effort to reduce unemployment and loss of income from taking low-paid jobs to get by. "The hope is that policies like these can help people struggling just to survive and allow them to get on their feet, be entrepreneurial and be more creative," said Branson is the post.