Prime Time 7/8, Writing, Arbeitsheft

17 72 Intercultural and social aspects | Social groups and minorities One of the criticisms often heard of “free money” schemes is that they create a dependency class. The Hamilton pilot will evaluate whether participants’ physical and mental health improve with income security, and if they are able to maintain housing and stay engaged 6   work. However, Jim Pugh, co-founder of the Universal Income Project, says many studies have shown that very few people receiving basic income drop 7  8   the workforce. “Some experiments have even found that basic income increases entrepreneurship, which would ultimately lead 9   more employment,” says Pugh. “The truth is that most people want to contribute 10   society. If we can provide them 11   basic financial security, they’ll find a way to do it.” Even those who support the good intentions and bold design of Universal Basic Income schemes have questioned their sustainability in the long term. But the criticism that basic income would dismantle the welfare state is “rubbish”, says Guy Standing, founder and co-president of the Basic Income Earth Network. He is in favour 12   maintaining benefits for the most vulnerable people in society even with basic income and has no doubt that it is affordable. “There is no reason why a city or country could not afford to have a basic income for everybody,” says Standing. “In Britain, tax reliefs for the wealthy and corporations come 13   about 400 billion pounds a year. This by itself could be used to pay for a basic income for everybody. It’s not something that is unaffordable; it’s a matter of priorities.” (Matthew Keegan, www.theguardian.com, 27 June 2018; adapted and abridged) 17.4 Focus on form and structure Comparing Complete the gaps with suitable phrases of comparison. 3  (not) as … as  •  as big a [noun] as  •  as much as  •  comparable with  •  compared with/to  • corresponding to  •  similar (to)  •  [comparative] than  •  the same as  •  using … as a basis for comparison  • than  •  different from  •  equal to  •  in the same way as  •  like  •  unlike 1. The gender pay gap means that, women, men get much higher salaries. 2. Surprisingly, the situation in various countries is . 3. Creating a transparent system would not be efficient imposing fines on companies which break the rules. 4. However, forcing companies to disclose their salary policies would certainly be better not doing anything. 5. Women in the public sector earn men, but they are often disadvantaged because of household duties which are not shared equally by their partners. 6. male managers, women in higher managerial positions in the private sector earn considerably less. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv