Keynote by Prof. Dr. Jörg Althammer at the FRIBIS Annual Conference 2024: “A feasible UBI – unconditional, but inadequate?”

Abstract: The presentation addresses the tension between an unconditional basic income’s distributive, fiscal, and allocative objectives. It is shown that these different goals cannot be achieved simultaneously, a fact we call the “transfer trilemma”. Therefore, we propose an unconditional basic income scheme that falls short of securing livelihoods or even fight poverty. Finally, we integrate a partial UBI into Germany’s tax and transfer scheme and discuss a partial basic income scheme on the European level.

Biography: Prof. Dr. Jörg Althammer holds the Chair of Economic Ethics and Social Policy at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt since 2008. He studied Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Augsburg, earning his doctorate in 1993 and habilitation in 1998. From 2001 to 2007, he was Professor of Social Policy and Social Economics at Ruhr University Bochum. Prof. Althammer directed the Central Institute for Marriage and Family in Society (ZFG) from 2008 to 2014. He advises the Commission for Economic and Social Affairs of the German Bishops’ Conference and serves on committees in the German Economic Association. From 2001 to 2014, he was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Family Affairs at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs.