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Statements posted on this blog represent the views of individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Center for Law Science & Innovation (which does not take positions on policy issues) or of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law or Arizona State University.

Technology Triple Trivia

TTT153 Questions. 3 Hints. 3 Answers.

February 9, 2016

  1. There’s nothing basic about this…can you guess what it is?

Hint:

Answer: Universal Basic Income (UBI) is an unsettled concept, at least in terms of how it would work and if it could work. It has been the subject of recent focus resulting from the fear of technological unemployment, although the idea has been circulating for decades.  Many lay people do not have a good grasp of the ABCs of UBI and those folks that do, do not agree on whether it is feasible.  What would UBI provide and what would it take away? Would it be a motivator or would it make people lazy?  There is also a concern that UBI may result in a big drop in the labor supply (though if we are all unemployed, this may not be an issue).  One of the best lines from this article, in connection with the feared drop in labor supply, is that it would likely result in a greater drop in France than Japan because, “[t]he French don’t seem to like to work that much.”  Other questions related to UBI are who and what should be taxed to support a program where citizens are given a monthly stipend — and whether all citizens should receive monthly support, or only adults?   How much should be given and how much can be given without breaking the government?  These are all questions that are keeping the experts busy, 5 of who were interviewed in the above-linked article.

2. What do avocados, clogged freeways and water shortages have in common?

Hint:

Answer: California is leading the way with potential research in human embryonic gene editing.  While the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine is just talking about it, federally, the conversation is a non-starter.  It remains to be seen whether the Golden State will follow in the footsteps of the UK which recently approved gene editing of human embryos.  Read more here.

3.  Not a morning person?  Who can you blame?

Hint:

Answer: it looks like it’s all about the genes.  According to genetics company 23andMe, “morning people” tend to be older, female, less prone to depression and insomnia — and are also believed to be nicer people (OK, that last characteristic was made up by a self-proclaimed  morning person).  To arrive at its conclusions, 23andMe considered about eight million gene variants.  That’s a lot of gene styles.  Read the details here.