Mad and madder still

Tom Healy: Forget 2012. Imagine 2062. In the United States of Europe let there be a poverty brake. If the structural poverty rate goes above 0.5% in 2 consecutive quarters an automatic correction and excessive poverty proceedure kicks in leading to sanctions for countries that continue. Meantime a constitutional amendment is required to enshrine a right to a basic income for all citizens. Will the markets be impressed? By what measure will human well-being be assessed? Alas in the long run we are all dead said Keynes. Remember him.

Dr Tom Healy     @TomHealyNERI

Dr Tom Healy is Director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI). He has previously worked in the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the National Economic and Social Forum and the Department of Education and Skills.

He holds a PhD (economics and sociology) from UCD. His research interests have included the impact of education and social capital on well-being.