Maine Policy Matters podcast covers basic income, COVID-19
Daniel Soucier explores the policy matter of universal basic income, assistance programs for the COVID-19 pandemic and why it matters to Maine in the latest installment of “Maine Policy Matters.”
Soucier is the podcast host and a research associate at the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center.
He virtually sat down with Michael Howard, coeditor of the journal Basic Income Studies and the national coordinator for the United States Basic Income Guarantee Network.
They discussed what defines basic income, what type of pilot programs exist in the U.S. and other countries, and the confluence of basic income policies with the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law March 27, provides many Americans $1,200 in direct cash payments, plus an additional $500 for each child. Spain recently announced it is moving toward a permanent basic income program to help workers and families affected by the virus.
“Maine Policy Matters” is the official podcast of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center. Future episodes will focus on childless elders and the coronavirus pandemic; dealing with the twin pandemics of opioid use disorder and COVID-19; and education policy and COVID-19.
The podcast can be found on podcast apps on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play and the center’s website.