New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Joe Williams, "Inequality in the Digital Economy: The Case for a Universal Basic Income" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024)
Feb 21, 2026
Andrew White, lecturer and author of Inequality in the Digital Economy, explores how digital markets concentrate power and wealth. He explains what a universal basic income would mean and why platform concentration and automation make it necessary. He discusses rethinking work, shorter weeks, valuing unpaid care, and practical pathways like pilots and tax-based funding.
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Personal Precarity Fueled UBI Research
- Andrew White describes living precariously after leaving China and how that shaped his interest in UBI.
- That personal experience encouraged him to finish his book on inequality and basic income.
Digital Economy Is Now Pervasive
- The digital economy now underpins almost all economic activity rather than being a separate sector.
- This shift changes production, organization, and which jobs are necessary.
Winner-Take-All Dynamics Increase Inequality
- Tech firms concentrate massive profits while employing relatively few people, creating higher inequality.
- Automation and AI amplify job loss, especially at entry levels, worsening labour prospects.
