Redistribution of work and income in the crisis: Actors' problems of working time reduction and a guaranteed basic income

In the present mass unemployment the ability of working time reduction to redistribute work and income becomes more clearly limited. In this paper I explore the feasibility of combining a guaranteed basic income with working time reduction in order to enhance the redistribution of work and income in the crisis. An important problem arises however when these programs are combined. The demand for working time reduction applies to a narrower range of interests, but integrates them more strongly, whereas the demand for a guaranteed basic income affects a wider range of interests, but integrates them less strongly. I call this the collectivity dilemma. The solution of this dilemma demands relatively complex cognitive reflexions on the part of the social actors involved.Translated by Andrew Watt