Comment by 0815test

Indeed, the "at a mere fraction of a UBI’s cost" claim is outright ignoring the economic cost associated with very high marginal tax rates. But Acemoglu also mentions the NIT, which would work a lot better than either. And, to be fair, the best-known economic models of non-linear income taxation imply that marginal tax rates on a NIT should actually be fairly substantial (60% or so would not be out of the question!), so as to keep the break-even point from getting too high; the rates just shouldn't be as high as 100% or more!