> 50 years from now, I think it will seem ridiculous that we used fear of not being able to eat as a way to motivate people.

Is this really a problem in Western societies? I haven't heard of famines or people starving to death here.

I believe that most people work for social status, so they can keep up with the people surrounding them.

> I also think that it’s impossible to truly have equality of opportunity without some version of guaranteed income.

Is this a good way to recruit researchers? After all you wouldn't want the researchers just to produce a paper that reinforces what you believe already.