Report: Critical Thinking Skills and Universal Basic Income Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of a case study on Universal Basic Income (UBI), focusing on the application of critical thinking skills. The introduction defines critical thinking and its importance in evaluating information and forming judgments. The main body explores the purpose of applying critical thinking to the case study, highlighting its role in understanding economic changes and promoting creativity. The report examines claims, assertions, and statements made in the case study, such as the potential of UBI to solve societal problems and the results of Finland's UBI study. It evaluates various ideas, including the benefits of UBI in fighting unemployment and providing financial choices. The report also critiques the potential drawbacks of UBI, such as the risk of resource misallocation and the impact on public services. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and emphasizes the significance of critical thinking in analyzing complex economic and social issues. The report is a valuable resource for students seeking to understand the complexities of UBI and the importance of critical thinking. Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments.

Critical thinking skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Purpose of applying critical thinking to the case study...............................................................1
Demonstrating understanding of critical thinking skills through examining claims, assertions
as well as statements made in the case study...............................................................................2
Using developing critical thinking skills, evaluation of ideas that are expressed in case study
and developing valid arguments which are based on understanding of the topic........................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Critical thinking refers to disposition to think intelligibly along with accurately for being
fair. It is about analysing facts for forming effective judgement (Beethoven, 2020). It plays
significant role in life of a person as it assist people to understand themselves, their objectives
along with motivational drives in better manner. At the time of writing or reading something that
is related to another person, critical thinking is important for making logical deductions,
understanding materials and evaluating someone's work for clear meanings. The assessment task
is based on case study related to Universal Basic Income. It covers purpose of executing critical
thinking in the case with key citations. It also includes claims, statements and assertions which
are made in the study and their validity. At last, the report evaluates ideas that are expressed
within case study.
MAIN BODY
Purpose of applying critical thinking to the case study
The concept of critical thinking is defined as the potentiality to think rational addition to
clear related to what to do and what to believe. Through applying critical thinking skill, a person
gains numerous advantages including better control of own learning along with empathy for
view points of others. Main purpose of executing critical thinking is to gain new knowledge
(Hudha and Batlolona, 2017). It helps in analysing changes within economy and dealing with
them in fast and effective manner. For example, implementing critical thinking in case study, the
knowledge about decision made by Government related to minimum living wage is improved by
thinking critically about the topic.
The term comprises competence to engage in independent or any form of reflective
thinking. Other purpose of implying critical thinking is to promote creativity. For coming with
innovative solution for a problem includes not only having some new ideas. However,
implication of critical thinking generates new ideas which are useful as well as relevant to a task
in hand (Styers, Van Zandt and Hayden, 2018). For instance, applying critical thinking in case
study, main purpose is to evaluate ideas to deal with problems and selecting best one to gain
success. It is done for analysing what ideas Government have taken and analysing them
rationally to reach towards best one.
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Potential of critical thinking is important as it permits an individual to understand logical
connections among ideas. Purpose behind applying the skill is to spot all arguments, logically
connecting with ideas, scrutinises as well as evaluating arguments for engaging with statements
(Kim, 2018). It is intellectually disciplined process to actively together with skilfully
conceptualise, execute, examine, synthesise and appraise information which is collected as
guided to actions. In context to case study, application of critical thinking skill was done with the
purpose of developing connections with idea that is Universal Basic Income for overcoming
from Covid-19 impacts on society.
Critical thinking allows a person to cut through various ignorances, bile, prejudice along
with gaining better and higher nuanced understanding about related issues. Notion to execute
critical thinking is for having wider systematic approaches for the processing collected data and
interpretation of opinions of different personalities about the issue (Pieterse, Lawrence and
Friedrich-Nel, 2016). For example, executing the skill provides a great experience for developing
understanding about the concerns of government of different countries to help society by
providing a minimum income to deal with issues of the pandemic situation.
Demonstrating understanding of critical thinking skills through examining claims, assertions as
well as statements made in the case study
In the case study, it is examined that some experts as well as politicians have made an
assertion that Universal Basic Income can be a solution to wide problems in society. These
people think that as a nation, all are in trouble as coronavirus have left wider population out of
work and on furlough scheme. Also, industry after industry are struggling. It is a statement
because it is made after considering situation in aerospace industry In Wales where around 8000
jobs were in danger that could never recover to the full. At same time, politicians defined
reduction in economy growth of UK as there were multiple issues which society was facing
before Covid-19 that have sent all at homes that have not went away (Hayward, 2020).
Moreover, people were not overcoming from many problems and Coronavirus have increased
them to lots. In order to bring some effective solution for all the problems, government and
population of Wales and UK says that Universal Basic Income could be a solver for the
problems.
An assertion made by people of Wales for UBI that it is suitable to deal with the problem.
People favour this as they think that UBI will give people wider choices in the ways to live lives.
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For example, there is an ageing population in UK and it would permit people to not work for
allowing them to care their elderly relatives. As per study in 2017, it is found that nearly 400 to
800 million people across the globe can be displaced through automation till 2030. It is an
assertion made by people as it is a confident along with forceful statement of belief. The
supporters of UBI believes that the solution would enable all the people which might be
displaced by robots or other technology to retain along with follow new pursuits (Hayward,
2020). At last, people hopes that it would refocus towards the society departed from endless
cycle of longer working hours.
One of claim which is examined in the case study is announcement of results of Finland
related to its two year UBI study in which around 2000 unemployed people between age of 25 to
57 are provided an unconditional and non means tested 560 Euros each month. As per the study,
people were happier and had huge trust on others together with higher confidence level in future.
It is a claim because it state something which is going to be true (Hayward, 2020). It is factual
data on the basis of which claim is developed by people as political system presented projected
results for coming two years about outcomes of UBI. Also, government have analysed that it
worked more than from various unemployment benefits and reported much better functioning.
Further, Economist along with investment manager named Milton Ezrati have made a
statement that the solution have high chances to take resources from people who requires it. At
same time, some states logistical difficulties. Milton Ezrati have effective applied skills to think
critically about pertaining situation and upcoming requirements. They made the statement by
considering various aspects. For example, cost of living in London is more than Powys, so at
which place the income level should be pitched. At same time, other claims that optics of the
state providing the very rich financial resources each month is after universal income. It is seen
as blunt instrument (Chen and Chuang, 2020). From the report, it is suggested that cost of UBI
means less spending on various public services and permitting superiors to pay minimum wages
to staff as they receive income from some other mediums. There are claims on both sides.
Another identified statement in the study is “On the path of funding, the solution named
UBI could be for embracing automation along with use of robotics fully”:. Within multiple
industries, automated technologies or robots are far more economically feasible choice despite of
people. It is because they makes fewer mistakes, don't get sick, work round the clock and
companies do not require to make payments to them. Dr Finbarr Livesey says nobody has perfect
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solution yet taxing robots, however, certain positions are there which pay more tax and disperse
them to rest of society (Hayward, 2020). It is a statement as it clearly expresses something. It
provides a flexible mechanism for dealing with very critical society. All trails in Finland as well
as small scale pilots shows that population do not stop working as well as it actually frees them
up.
Using developing critical thinking skills, evaluation of ideas that are expressed in case study and
developing valid arguments which are based on understanding of the topic
In the case study, there are various ideas suggested by different people about the topic
through implication of their critical thinking skills. The first idea or assertion made by political
people or experts is Universal basic Income can be a solution for wider problems in society.
From the assertion, it is evaluated that UBI have several benefits that can help society to deal
and overcome effectively from larger problems. Some of them are fighting technological
unemployment, supporting unpaid workers, expanding middle class and ending poverty. In
contrast, from the views of Haagh (2019, it have been evaluated that UBI would incite wider
people to stop working and generate inequality among people at different social class. At same
time, it is said that the situation or challenges faced by society can be reduced but not eradicated
properly.
The another assertion that is made by experts of Wales, UK is that UBI is best to
overcome from the situation as it will provide people wider choices to live lives in better manner.
From this, it is evaluated that it would enable population to take risks as lot of people have
innovative ideas for business. However, these people have worry that setting new business can
lead to payment of wider bills. UBI would refrain people to take risks rather it encourages them
to generate revenues from government and make their lives better. In contrary, Snowdown
(2020) says that unemployment rates in Wales have rose slightly to 3.1 per cent in last couple of
month because of impacts of Covid-19. The political leaders says that the pandemic situation of
Coronavirus is rally impacting the economy as well as placing precedent challenges in business
community. At same time, it is encouraging people to seek employment for them and make their
daily livings.
From the claim made by Finland political system that UBI have given blunt and non
meant Euros per month to citizens between age of 25 to 57. it made them happier and generated
higher confidence. It is evaluated that the because of the solution, the population have made
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more efforts towards development of society than other unemployment benefit programs. From
this, it have reported better cognitive working. Moreover, the claim is supported by Reuters
(2019) evaluates that says that despite of minimum wages, there are various people that still
prefers to work more. A basic income is making recipients more happier than their dependence
of unemployment benefits. It helps citizens to depend less on state as well as cut welfare costs,
particularly, new types of automation which eliminate some jobs.
As per analysed claim of Milton Ezrati that UBI would take resources from the one that
needs them the most. It is seen as blunt instrument which is used in misused manner due to
which the people who requires the facilities more are unable to avail the benefits. Moreover,
through the tool or technique, employers are performing unethical practices by paying lower
wages to staff as they are generating it from other sources. At same time, Ruckert, Huynh and
Labonté (2018) supports the claim saying that the idea of UBI is certainly an intriguing one
which is gaining wider tractions. The resources actually hurt the poor through reallocating
support to middle or higher social class.
From the analysed statement which is on the way of funding, UBI can be for embracing
automation together with using robotics completely. In multiple industries, robots are considered
more economical choice than human beings. Robots are beneficial choices as they performs by
making minimum mistakes, works all time and do not need any payments. However, it is said by
Ciaian, Ivanov and Kancs (2019) that Universal basic Income is not solution for robots taking
human jobs. It is argued that UBI is touted as solution to increase use of robots and resulting new
jobs in automation area rather than taking jobs of human resources. With this, job of people are
more at risk creating more unemployed situations in the nation.
CONCLUSION
From the discussion, it is concluded that critical thinking skills are used for understanding
others views and making better decisions. Purpose of implying critical thinking skills is to make
sound decisions, making rational judgements and solving problems in more methodical manner.
The new knowledge improves flexibility to analyse information along with integrate it with
diverse sources to solve issues.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Chen, H. L. and Chuang, Y. C., 2020. The effects of digital storytelling games on high school
students' critical thinking skills. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning.
Ciaian, P., Ivanov, A. and Kancs, D. A., 2019. Universal basic income: A viable policy
alternative?. The World Economy. 42(10). pp.2975-3000.
Haagh, L., 2019. The Case for Universal Basic Income. John Wiley & Sons.
Hudha, M. N. and Batlolona, J. R., 2017. How are the physics critical thinking skills of the
students taught by using inquiry-discovery through empirical and theorethical
overview?. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education. 14(2).
pp.691-697.
Kim, E., 2018. Effect of simulation-based emergency cardiac arrest education on nursing
students' self-efficacy and critical thinking skills: Roleplay versus lecture. Nurse
education today. 61. pp.258-263.
Pieterse, T., Lawrence, H. and Friedrich-Nel, H., 2016. Critical thinking ability of 3rd year
radiography students. health sa gesondheid. 21(1). pp.381-390.
Ruckert, A., Huynh, C. and Labonté, R., 2018. Reducing health inequities: is universal basic
income the way forward?. Journal of Public Health. 40(1). pp.3-7.
Styers, M. L., Van Zandt, P. A. and Hayden, K. L., 2018. Active learning in flipped life science
courses promotes development of critical thinking skills. CBE—Life Sciences
Education. 17(3). p.ar39.
Online:
Beethoven. L. V. 2020. What is Critical Thinking. [Online]. Available through:
<https://philosophy.hku.hk/think/critical/ct.php>
Snowdown. C. 2020. Slight rise in unemployment level in Wales. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/18737066.slight-rise-unemployment-
levels-wales/>
Reuters. 2019. Finland’s Basic Income Trial Boosts Happiness, but Not Employment. [Online].
Available through: <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/world/europe/finland-basic-
income.html>
Hayward, W. 2020. Universal Basic Income: the scheme where the Government would give you
free money every month. Available at:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/universal-basic-income-
coronavirusgovernment-18243181 [Accessed 25 August 2020].
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