Economics & Development debate motions (page 4)

Page 4 of 7: 200 more economics & development motions, covering 2016 to 2020. Start at the newest economics & development motions, or search the whole bank from the motion explorer.

2020 (18 motions)

THBT investors should be required to invest a significant portion of their portfolios in the real economy
Malaysia ABP · 4
THP the use of Pay-for-Success funding for charitable programmes to the use of direct government funding
Europe Queer Open · 6
Info slide
Pay-for-success funding is a model of funding social projects in which a government agency allocates funding to a social project to be paid to investors only upon the achievement of a specified goal within a pre-alloted time frame. The finance to cover the costs of achieving that outcome is provided by the independent investors. In return for accepting the risks entailed in directly funding the project, these investors typically make a profit if the project is successful.
THBT governments should never intervene to stop or slow gentrification
Diliman Pre-ABP · 4
Info slide
Gentrification is the phenomenon of historically low-income neighborhoods, homes, and establishments being replaced or pushed out by the influx of higher-income populations and wealthier businesses.
THS the creation of the African Monetary Union
ANU Spring · Open_Semi
Info slide
The African Monetary Union (AMU) is the proposed creation of an economic and monetary union for the countries of the African Union, administered by the African Central Bank. Such a union would call for the creation of a new unified currency, similar to the euro; the hypothetical currency is sometimes referred to as the afro or afriq.
THW subject all industrialisation projects (infrastructure, energy production etc.) to approval by immediately affected local communities
London Charity Open · 1
THW oblige all profitable companies to give minimum 50% dividend payout ratio
English Parade 2020 · 3
Info slide
Dividend payout ratio is percentage of total company's profit from previous fiscal year that is shared among shareholders (e.g. a company generating profit of 100 million, should they share 10 million with its shareholders and keep the rest as retained earnings (for cashflow, expansion, etc.), then the Dividend Payout Ratio (DPR) is 10%)
THBT economic policies in countries severely affected by COVID-19 should be decided solely by a panel of independent peer-elected economists
Wolce's Pre Asians · 2
Given a finite amount of disposable income, THP a world where people donate to charities rather than personal crowdfunding campaigns
Delta Womxn's Open 2020 · 2
Info slide
Crowdfunding sources like, GoFundMe, DonorsChoose.org, GiveForward, etc. raise monetary contributions from large number of people for medical expenses, school needs, etc. In 2015 crowdfunding pages raised over $34 billion worldwide.
THP a system of no labour regulations to that of extensive labour regulations (minimum wage, job security legislation, etc.)
LUMS Pre-ABP Online 2020 · 5
Assuming the technology existed, THW allow individuals to sell skills and personality traits
LUMS Pre-ABP Online 2020 · Open_Final
THW abandon all tourism-reliant economic strategies
The Halycon Scholastics Competition · 3
THBT all tech startups that become "unicorns" should be publicly traded
UMSU Online Open · 4
Info slide
A unicorn is a term used in the venture capital industry to describe a privately held startup company with a value of over $1 billion. Examples of this include Gojek and SpaceX.
In developing democratic countries, THW prioritise bottom-up over top-down accountability reforms
UMSU Online Open · 5
Info slide
Top-down accountability measures involve governments monitoring public project delivery, including by prosecuting corrupt bureaucrats and conditionalising government project funding on fulfilling key performance indicators. Bottom-up accountability measures involve the recipients of government services (i.e. citizens) monitoring public project delivery, including by empowering local councils to implement anti-corruption strategies and involving ordinary citizens in governmental decision-making.
In retrospect, THBT Brazil should have chosen the FTAA over Mercosur
III Rio Sao Paolo · 1
THBT developing countries should invest in green recovery initiatives as opposed to bailing out major industries.
Proxime Debate Open · Open_Semi
Info slide
A green recovery is a widely adopted name for a package of environmental, regulatory and fiscal reforms to recover prosperity after the COVID-19 pandemic. Green recovery attempts to ensure that investment to lift countries out of economic recession is spent in a way that stops global warming from the use of coal, oil and gas, and to invest in clean transport, energy, buildings, and corporate or financial practices.
TH nationalise all development and usage of AI that are likely to replace human labour
Asia Open Debate Championship · 5
Info slide
Nationalisation refers to the process of transforming privately-owned assets into public-owned assets by bringing them under ownership and control of the national government or state
This house would make development aid contingent on advancements in human rights
Lund Open 2020 · 4
THBT capitalism is incompatible with human survival
USC IV · Open_Final

2019 (73 motions)

THBT extreme economic need should be grounds for asylum
Brad Smith Debate Tournament · Open_Final
THBT the IMF should require collateral in exchange for loans
Budapest Open 2019 · 4
In cities and areas with rapidly increasing housing costs, THW tax new residents and use the revenue to subsidize housing costs for citizens already residing in the area
Budapest Open 2019 · Open_Semis
Assuming feasibility, THW sacrifice the rich.
GWU IV / US Universities Debate Eastern Championship 2019 · Open_Final
Info slide
In the famine-ridden world of 2050, a technological breakthrough is leaked to the public. It allows us to sacrifice a human, converting them into biomatter, and the technology has become cheap enough for general usage. The biomatter can be repurposed into a wide range of resources for energy production, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, etc.. Motion: Assu
THW give land grants to women in developing nations
GWU IV / US Universities Debate Eastern Championship 2019 · Open_Quarters
THS the idea of authoritarian reformers in developing countries.
Cornell Novice Nationals 2019 & Cornell IV 2019 · Open_Final
Assuming that technology to do so existed, THW would progressively tax happiness and redistribute it.
Cornell Novice Nationals 2019 & Cornell IV 2019 · Novice_Final
THR the westernization of the elites in post-colonial countries.
Cornell Novice Nationals 2019 & Cornell IV 2019 · 3 · World Schools Debating Championships
Info slide
During and after colonization, local elites preferred to be educated in European languages and/or in European universities/cities. As part of this education, western culture and etiquette became the dominant norm in the institutions of the country (civil service, government, education system, etc.).
THW choose the job they are passionate about
Leiden Open 2019 · 5 · World Schools Debating Championships
Info slide
You are a talented person in your early twenties who is about to start their career. You have the choice between a high profile job in which you will make a lot of money and work a lot of hours (e. g. banking, law at a big firm) and a lower profile job which pays less which you are more passionate about (e. g. teaching, working for a charity, academia). Motion: THW
THBT developing countries should actively discourage the creation of primate cities
Manchester IV 2019 · Open_Quarters
Info slide
A primate city is a city in which the majority of the cultural, social, and economic capital in a country is centred. They are often the most populous cities in a given country. Examples include London, Bangkok, Kinshasa, and Lagos. Motion: THB
THS substantially increase its development and/or engagement to the Republic of India.
Muslim Interscholastic Tournament · 8
THS Considerably decrease its regulation of genetically modified foods.
Muslim Interscholastic Tournament · 9
This House, as South Africa, would forcibly break up exclusive Afrikaaner enclaves
Cape Town WUDC 2019 · 1
Info slide
Afrikaaners are a white South African ethnic group descended from predominantly Dutch settlers.
This House would implement substantial measures to impose long-termism in corporate investment culture (e.g. minimum holding periods for shares, yearly rather than quarterly financial reporting, long-term executive compensation plans)
Cape Town WUDC 2019 · 5
This House believes that developing countries should privatise their State-Owned Enterprises (such as airlines, railway utility companies)
Cape Town WUDC 2019 · 9
THBT Greece should introduce significant financial incentives for companies and individuals currently based in Athens* to relocate to other Greek cities *Over a third of the Greek population lives in Athens.
Athens EUDC 2019 · 1
THBT consumers should predominantly aim to buy locally produced goods and services
Athens EUDC 2019 · 5
TH Opposes the Defining Decade norm
Athens EUDC 2019 · ESL_Finals
Info slide
The 'Defining Decade' is a cultural norm which urges young adults to persistently pursue life goals, even at the expense of significantly neglecting immediate desires. As part of this approach it is common to seek to maximise educational value from most activities, seek more responsibility at work, seek instrumental value from social relationships, and stigmatise idle time.
THBT local governments in developing countries should allocate significant portions of their budget via Participatory Budgeting
Athens EUDC 2019 · Open_Octos
Info slide
Participatory Budgeting is a process in which ordinary civilians decide how to allocate part of a municipal or local public budget. Citizens propose and prioritise spending projects within a predefined amount of funding, and the government is bound by the decisions they made, e.g. local transportation projects, subsidies and educational and cultural programs.
This house believes that governments in developing nations should prioritize funding for early childhood development to the exclusion of funding for tertiary education.
PAUDC Akofena 2019 · 4
This House Supports the public offering of Saudi Aramco
PAUDC Akofena 2019 · 7
Info slide
As part of agenda 2030 (cutting oil reliance by boosting private sector investment), the Saudi government has issued an Initial Public Offer (IPO) for the Saudi Arabia oil company popularly known as Saudi Aramco. Note: An IPO is a public offering in which shares of a company are sold to institutional investors and the public.
This house believes that governments should prioritize the economic improvement of minority communities over the preservation of their culture.
HWS Round Robin 2018 · 3
THBT governments should significantly invest in social impact bonds to address social problems
21st SSE Riga IV · Open_Semi
THBT the African Union should condemn the One Belt One Road Initiative
Seattle IV 2019 · Open_Semi
THS universal basic income rather than conditional welfare programs (such as unemployment and food stamps).
Northams 2019 · 1
THBT every billionaire is a policy failure.
Northams 2019 · Open_Final
THBT Brazil should fully privatize Petrobras / ECCQ Brasil debería privatizar por completo Petrobras
Pan American Debating Championships 2019 · 1
THBT developing countries should pursue the establishment of charter cities / ECCQ los países en vía de desarrollo deberían establecer ciudades chárter
Pan American Debating Championships 2019 · 5
Info slide
For the purposes of this debate, a charter city is where a developing country grants a long term lease on a city to a developed country. The developed country receives a siginificant autonomy to govern the city for the time of the lease. / Para fines de este debate, una ciudad chárter es una ciudad que un país en vía de desarrollo otorga en préstamo a largo plazo a un país desarrollado. El país desarrollado recibe autonomía considerable para gobernar la ciudad por el tiempo del préstamo.
ECCQ el involucramientode Estados Unidos en Panama (presencia militar, influencia cultural, relaciones economicas estrechas, etc) beneficia a los panamenos.
Pan American Debating Championships 2019 · Spanish_Final
This House Believes That China should seek to curb debt at the expense of economic growth.
European Round Robin 2019 · 3
Info slide
Official Chinese record state Chinas total public and private debt is $34 trillion. China has a number of policy options it can implement in order to reduce its debt: regulating its shadows banking sector, restricting debt-financed oversees investment, allowing State Owned Enterprises to go insolvent, and reducing construction of steel and coal industries.
In cities with scarce housing availability THW reallocate funds intended for building or subsidizing affordable housing to providing the means for those in need to relocate to different cities with lower costs of living.
Hart House IV 2019 · 2
Assuming feasibility, THW distribute development aid to individual citizens rather than governments.
Hart House IV 2019 · 4
THBT developing countries with substantial natural resources should nationalise natural resource production.
Barcelona Debating Open 2019 · 4
THBT shrinking cities should be allowed to impose an "exit tax" on leaving businesses
Estonia Debate Open 2019 · 5
This House believes that wages should be predominantly determined by the public utility of a job.
Cracow Open 2019 · Open_Semi
THW ban private ownership of 3D printers
Tilbury House Cologne Open 2019 · 3
thw relocate refugees to countries based solely on the receiving countries' level of economic wealth
FLTRP Training Beijing Debate Open · Novice_Semi
thw set a cap on the personal wealth an individual is allowed to own (including the value of shares that individuals own in companies
FLTRP Training Beijing Debate Open · Open_Quarters
thw subsidize youths that opt into entrepreneurship instead of pursuing university degrees (designing, launching, and running a new business eg start ups)
FLTRP Training Beijing Debate Open · 5
in developing nations, thbt workers should be allowed to trade off their employment benefits (eg pensions, health insurance, protections from labor laws) in exchange for higher wages
FLTRP Training Beijing Debate Open · 3
THW introduce a maximum wage.
Deree Invitational LVII · Novice_Final
THBT the WTO should allow developing countries to impose tariffs on imports from developed countries.
Deree Invitational LVII · Open_Semi
THBT environmental activists should reject eco-friendly public-private partnerships and insist on stricter environmental regulations
Berkeley IV 2019 · 4
Info slide
Eco-friendly public-private partnerships are approaches where governments or international organisations offer incentives to corporations to adopt policies that are eco-friendly. Examples include government-sponsored green projects, green investment, or company-sponsored public green projects (in return for cost savings or tax cuts).
This house prefers a post-growth society to a society geared towards growth.
Campus-Debatte Wien 2019 · Open_Final
As the author of a non-colonial language (e.g. Marathi, Inuktitut, IsiXhosa, Gikuyu, Tibetan, among others), this house would only write in its native language
The Karachi Cup 2019 · Open_Final
THW replace all social safety net policies with a comparable universal basic income.
Rocky Mountain Championships · 2
Info slide
Universal Basic Income: is a periodic payment delivered to all people on an individual basis without mean tests or work requirements.
THW implement substantial measures to impose long-termism in corporate investment culture (eg. minimum holding periods for shares, yearly rather than quarterly financial reporting, long term executive compensation plans)
LUMS Asians' Debate Open · 1
THS THE GLORIFICATION OF START-UP CULTURE THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO CREATE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES RATHER THAN PURSUE TRADITIONAL CAREER PATHS
All-Nigeria Universities Debate Championship 2019 · 1
THBT CONSERVATIVE STATES SHOULD AGGRESSIVELY EMBRACE LIBERAL IDEOLOGIES IN THE PURSUIT OF PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
All-Nigeria Universities Debate Championship 2019 · 3
That, assuming feasibility, governments should cap parents' expenditure on their children to an amount equivalent to the current median expenditure per year.
Easters 2019 · 2
That, assuming feasibility, we should charge corporations a tax equal to their Social Cost instead of company tax.
Easters 2019 · Open_Semi
TH AS THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES WOULD OFFER ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS THE GRAFT LEEWAY
WW III · 4
Info slide
The graft leeway is a social agreement offered by the electorate granting elected officials grafting immuinity with the precondition of the execution of progressive social programmes. The graft leeway is typically activated at any time x PROCEEDING periods of evident societal progress within an elected term of office.
THBT a universal basic income is preferable to conditional welfare programs (e.g., SNAP, housing assistance, Medicaid)
Bard IV · 1
THS wage subsidies in regions with persistent economic malaise (e.g. The Rust Belt, Kawerau).
Joynt Scroll 2019 · 6
THBT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SHOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM HOSTING INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS
4th Mindanao Intervarsity · 1
TH regrets the ascension of poverty tourism (e.g. ghettos, favelas, etc.)
II Rio São Paulo Tournament · 4
TH would invest in the construction of new buildings in detriment of the preservation of historical buildings
II Rio São Paulo Tournament · 3
TH would abstain from buying fast fashion clothing (e.g. Zara, C&A, Renner, etc.)
II Rio São Paulo Tournament · 2
THBT development aid that goes to the global south should only be used to fund grassroots NGOs rather than International NGOs.
9th Zamboanga Debate Open · Open_Semi
Info slide
The Global South is an emerging term which refers to countries seen as low and middle income in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean by the World Bank. These nations are often described as newly industrialized or in the process of industrializing
TH, in Southern Cone countries' place, would walk away from Brazil.
II Fluminense Debate Tournament · Open_Final
TH believes the X Fund is the fairest way to combat drug trafficking in Latin America.
II Fluminense Debate Tournament · Open_Semi
Info slide
The X Fund is a fund compulsorily financed by developed countries to combat drug trafficking in Latin America.
TH welcomes the conversion of massive agricultural lands for residential and commercial use
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2019 · Novice_Final
THBT the private sector should take the lead in post-disaster rehabilitation
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2019 · Novice_Semi
THBT Philippine national curricula should portray a unanimously and graphically negative account of the impact of Western colonization.
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2019 · Open_Semi
THBT the 1% should shoulder the costs of going green
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2019 · 6
As a response to excessive food consumption, THW allocate a fixed ration to all citizens
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2019 · 6
THS South Africa's land-expropriation-without-compensation reform
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2019 · 5
Info slide
South Africa's land-expropriation-without-compensation reform is an act that takes away land owned by white South Africans without any form of compensation from the state, and distributes them to black South Africans.
THR the creation of the Philippine Space Agency
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2019 · 1
THW levy size-based business tax instead of corporation tax on profit
JPDU Spring Tournament · Open_Semi
Info slide
Size-based business tax is a form of corporation tax. It levies tax according to corporations' value added and capital stock even if they don't make any profit
THW abandon the use of GDP as the standard index to measure a nation's prosperity
JPDU Spring Tournament · Open_Semi
THR the accelerated competition in the Japanese QR code industry
JPDU Spring Tournament · Open_Quarter
THW prohibit the poor and lower middle class from purchasing risk assets
JPDU Spring Tournament · Open_Octa
Info slide
Risk Assets refers to assets that have a significant degree of price volatility, such as equities, junk bonds, real estates and currencies. It may possibly bring a high return in exchange for high risk.
THR the rise of recruitment the employee referral
JPDU Spring Tournament · Novice_Final

2018 (45 motions)

This House Would subsidize large scale geoengineering such as massive carbon sequestration (capture of atmospheric co2 out of the atmosphere and into storage) rather than environmental adaptation (eg: cleaner fossil fuels, ethanol, recycling technology, etc)
UBC IV · 1
THBT South Korea should re-open the Kaesong Industrial Region.
Inner Temple IV 2018 · 3
Info slide
The Kaesong Industrial Region (KIR) is a collaborative economic development between North Korea and South Korea (ROK). The industrial park is located ten kilometres (six miles) north of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, an hour's drive from Seoul, with direct road and rail access to South Korea. The KIR allows South Korean companies to employ cheap labour that is educated, skilled, and fluent in Korean, whilst providing North Korea with an important source of foreign currency. // In 2016, after a decade of cooperation in the KIR, South Korea "temporarily" shut down operations in North Korea, in part over protests against continued North Korean provocations. In response, North Korea expelled all South Korean workers, with all South Korean assets and equipment at the jointly run factory park left behind. Motion: THB
THBT government must grant economic compensation to those unemployed by the automation of their work
1st Copa Leones de Debate (CLD) at University of Guadalajara · 3
THW choose China
1st Copa Leones de Debate (CLD) at University of Guadalajara · Open_Semis
Info slide
It is the year 2030. The 3rd world war has ended. The countries of the European Union have been devastated again. The two strongest economies after the conflict are the United States and China, who are running to implement and finance a new Marshall Plan. The Union can only choose one // Motion: THW
THW REPEAL ALL NON-COMPETE LEGISLATION
All-Nigeria Universities Debating Championship (ANUDC), University of Ilorin 2018 · 2
Info slide
A non-compete clause or covenant not to compete is a clause under which one party (usually an employee) agrees to not in future or while their employment subsists, enter into or start a similar profession or trade in competition against another party (usually the employer). MOTION: THW
TH AS NIGERIA WILL PURSUE ISOLATIONIST ECONOMIC POLICIES
All-Nigeria Universities Debating Championship (ANUDC), University of Ilorin 2018 · 6
TH, as India, would embrace China's One Belt One Road initiative
Joynt Scroll (NZ Prepared Debating Tournament) · 5
You are a relatively successful indie film-maker who has been approached by a major movie studio to direct a major film franchise. THW turn down the offer
Joynt Scroll (NZ Prepared Debating Tournament) · 6
This house believes that, in highly populated urban areas, the government should set a maximum rent that may be charged for residential tenancies.
NZ Easters 2018 · 2
THBT the Bulgarian government should pay reparations to all those who were subjected to the Revival process
Sofia Open 2018 · 3
Info slide
The Revival Process was the official name of the forceful assimilation of Bulgaria's Muslim minority (900,000 people or 10% of the population). Muslim Turks were forced to change their Turkish and Arabic names to Bulgarian names and were forbidden from the exercise of their customs, religion and language. It was enacted between 1984 and 1989 under the communist government of Todor Zhivkov. Those who refused were subjected to persecution, including imprisonment. Despite this Bulgarian Muslims represent (on average) a comparatively wealthy group in Bulgarian society. Motion: THB
The Trump administration should abandon its widespread use of tariffs as a tool to boost the US economy
UCLA IV 2018 · 6
THW significantly tax vacant homes
Brandeis IV · 2
THW exclusively fund African NGOs instead of Western NGOs working in African countries.
Israel's English Cup 2018 · 1
THW ban ownership of 3D printers for personal use.
Israel's English Cup 2018 · Open_Semis
This house would require companies to provide economic compensation & job retraining to those unemployed by the automation of their work.
Jewell Debate Tournament · 2
THBT cities should not use investment incentives to attract businesses
Seattle IV 2017 · Open_Quarters
THP a world where people believe you should maximize productivity to a world where people believe you should maximize leisure.
Oxford IV 2018 · Open_Final
This house regrets the rise of the gig economy.
Seattle IV 2018 · 1
THW release the Federal Reserve from the dual mandate. (Infoslide: Since 1977, the US Federal Reserve has operated under a "dual mandate" from Congress to pursue full employment and low inflation. Under traditional macroeconomic theory, there is a tradeoff between these states exemplified in the Phillips Curve. Other central banks have different mandates; e.g., the European Central Bank has a singular focus on price stability.)
Seattle IV 2018 · 4
This house supports the creation of charter cities in developing nations. (Infoslide: "Charter Cities" are tracts of uninhabited land set aside by host nations that would be semi-autonomous and administered by a developing third-party government. Citizens of the host nation could move in and out as they so desire. In recent years, Honduras has explored the option of establishing a charter city administered by the Canadian government.)
Seattle IV 2018 · Open_Final
Assuming that no other life existed in the galaxy, THW prefer a humanity that collectively expands and colonizes other planets to one that preserves and adapts to the Earth.
Seattle IV 2018 · Novice_Final
THBT all national economic policy (taxation, monetary policy, tariffs, etc) should be set by an appointed panel of economists rather than by elected officials
2018 Empire Debates · Novice_Final
TH, as an emerging economy, prefers supporting domestically-based banks to the exclusion of multinational financial institutions (for example, providing support to Banco de Mexico and the businesses and individuals who use BdeM in Mexico, but not those who bank at HSBC Mexico).
2018 Empire Debates · Open_Semis
THW abandon African Union plans for a single currency
Birmingham IV 2018 · 3
Info slide
All UN member states in Africa are part of the African Union (AU). In the status quo, these states have differing levels of monetary integration, ranging from independent currencies to the Common Monetary Area (CMA) where the South African Rand is legal tender in many Southern African states; all the way to the Central African Franc and West African Franc currency unions encompassing multiple nations. The AU plans to introduce a single AU-wide currency by 2023. Motion: THW
THBT governments should actively incentivice people to move away from areas with few viable economic activities
Joensuu Mini 2018 · 2
THW reallocate revenues from such industries (e.g mining) to exclusively fund Universal basic healthcare for the poor.
PAUDC Tanzania 2018 · 5
Countries with declining populations should abandon policies that aim to increase the birth rate (ex. incentivising citizens to marry and have children)
Shanghai International Debate Open · Novice_Quarter
THBT governments should require the portfolios of all multinational e-commerce companies (Amazon, Alibaba, Rakuten etc) to constitute of a minimum 50% of local products in value
IUT Professionals 2018 · Open_Quarter
THBT former colonial powers have an obligation to promote economic development in their former colonies
USC IV 2018 · 4
THBT states should construct data based profiles of their citizens (China social credit for example)
The Beacon Debating Club 2018 · Open_Final
THO the buying and selling of emotional services
Athens Open 2018 · 4
Info slide
Emotional service providers are paid by clients to provide emotional intimacy similar to family members, friends, or romantic partners; these services are non-sexual in nature.
This House believes that the Poor of the Developed World are entitled to vote for policies which protect their own economic interests at the expense of those of the Global Poor.
Nottingham Trent Open 2018 · 3
Info slide
The World has grown richer- the pie has gotten bigger. The Global Poor have seen their share of the pie grow, and the better off among the global poor you are, the more your share has grown The Global Elite (the top ±1%) have seen their share of the pie grow to a similar degree, meaning most of the wealth has gone to them. The Poor of the Developed World have seen their share of the pie grow very little, or shrink. This is includes much of black America, poor white Britain, deindustrialised Europe.
THS states prioritizing the alleviation of poverty within their own borders at the expense of support of international aid programmes
Manchester IV 2018 · Open_Semi
Assuming that everyone had perfect information about the implications of climate change, TH, as an individual in a developing country, would consciously choose to ignore climate change
Luzon Intervarsity 2018 · Open_Final
THW replace existing welfare systems, excluding healthcare, with a UBI
Luzon Intervarsity 2018 · 7
THW require approval from local referenda for all major land development decisions (e.g. when building stadiums, highways, airport, extensions, railways).
Luzon Intervarsity 2018 · 2
THW relocate individuals away from remote and economically depressed areas rather than develop these areas
Diliman Debate Open 2018 · 3
In disaster-prone areas, THW replace all state rebuilding and reconstruction efforts with direct cash transfers to affected citizens
Belgrade Open · 2
TH prefers the strategy of creating new sustainable cities in developing countries over upgrading cities in developed countries to be sustainable
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2018 · Open_Final
THR the prominence of privatization/private companies in addressing problems of public transportation and transport infrastructure
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2018 · Open_Semi
THBT effective adoption and innovation of green technology is incompatible with consumerism
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2018 · Open_Semi
THR Facebook's shift towards an algorithm that prioritizes "meaningful social interactions" over news and business content
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2018 · Open_Quarter
THBT the exercise of eminent domain should extend to the expropriation of land to private corporations for their development initiatives
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2018 · 6
THBT Latin American countries should collectively impose economic restrictions on the U.S. until it reforms immigration and trade policies towards the region
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2018 · 5
THBT economic adjustments in response to automation (e.g. unemployment support, labor retraining, migration) should be the burden of companies rather than the state
Philippines Intervarsity Debating Championship 2018 · 2

2017 (45 motions)

This House would allow members of the armed forces to form labour unions
Dutch WUDC 2017 · 2
Info slide
A labour union is an organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, formed to protect their rights and interests
In areas with rapidly rising property prices, This House would suspend all restrictions on property development that are not health and safety requirements (for example, environmental zoning regulations, building height restrictions, and regulations on the appearance of buildings)
Dutch WUDC 2017 · 4
This House believes that the world would be a better place if women from privileged backgrounds turned down any benefits arising from affirmative action programs.
Dutch WUDC 2017 · 6
This House regrets the glamorization of start-up culture that encourages people to start their own companies rather than pursue traditional career paths
Dutch WUDC 2017 · 8
This House would temporarily and significantly relax minimum labour standards in times of unusually high unemployment, including workplace health and safety standards, minimum wage, working hours restrictions etc.
Dutch WUDC 2017 · 9
THBT the European left should promote a hard left agenda, including the nationalisation of major industry, very high tax rates on wealthy, and expansion of the welfare states.
Dutch WUDC 2017 · EFL_Final
THW force all news organisations to operate as non-profits
Dutch WUDC 2017 · ESL_Final
THR the Neolithic Revolution
Galway Open 2017 · ProAm_Final
TH opposes common currency
GWU Eastern Championships 2017 · Open_Quarters
Info slide
Common Currency.
THW sell the script.
Leiden Open · Novice_Final
Info slide
You are a 25 year old playwright and consider yourself to be part of counterculture, you distance yourself from the mainstream. You have written a play called 'Patriarchy is the opium of the people' that portrays sexism by means of strong provocation. You haven't been able to get the play on any stage and have not had another big break as an artist. Steven von Trier, an accomplished director, has recently offered you a substantial amount of money to use your script. He will take out the provocation and will add a romantic love story. You will still be credited as the writer. Motion: THW
THBT governments should depopulate areas with few viable economic activities.
2017 Pan-American Universities Debating Championship · 2
THW institute a "robot tax"
2017 Pan-American Universities Debating Championship · 5
Info slide
A robot tax is a tax on corporations levied in proportion to the company's use of artificial intelligence in the production, distribution and sale of its goods and services. Artificial intelligence is the development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making and so on. Motion: THW
You are a citizen living in today's world. You have the ability to create a perfect world by picking a random child by global lottery and condemning them to a condition of abject misery. The lottery is unbiased. The child will endure all the world's extreme suffering in perpetuity (i.e. lack of human contact, torture, starvation, disease). The child's suffering creates a world without war, famine, disease, or poverty: there is perfect prosperity and happiness. THW do it.
2017 Pan-American Universities Debating Championship · Open_Quarters
THR the rise of sharing economy
Tricity Mini · Open_Final
This house supports the use of "eye in the sky" policing in urban areas with high crime rates.
HWS Round Robin · 1
Info slide
"Eye in the Sky" surveillance involves constantly flying inaudible drones over large areas (say, 30 square miles). The drones take pictures of the entire area constantly. Images are stored electronically such that police can essentially turn back the clock at the location of a crime and look at where people came from or went to, potentially providing valuable clues toward solving these crimes. The image resolution does not allow for identifying individuals or reading license plates. motion: Thi
This house believes that the US should issue guest worker visas, under which minimum wage laws would not apply.
HWS Round Robin · 5
This House Supports the EU Backed Western Balkans Customs Union, Even at the Price of Terminating the Free Trade Agreement With Russia And of Joining the EU Sanctions on Russia
PEP IV 2017 · Open_Final
Info slide
The EU backed customs union is a unified trade space for Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and self-proclaimed state of Kosovo*. Motion: Thi
THBT Brazil should fully privatise Petrobras
Newcastle Mixed Doubles · 3
THW subsidise banks to disproportionately direct loans to historically disadvantaged communities and individuals
Newcastle Mixed Doubles · 4
THBT India should abandon the Make in India policy
IIT Bombay IV · 2
THBT, in large metropolitan areas, the government should use eminent domain to create high density housing development.
HWS North American Universities Debating Championsip · Open_Quarters
THW replace existing welfare systems with a universal basic income.
HWS North American Universities Debating Championsip · 2
THW allow central banks to use quantitative easing for the purpose of government investment as opposed to the support of the financial services.
KCL IV 2017 · 4
Info slide
Quantitative easing (QE) is an form of monetary policy where a Central Bank creates new money electronically to buy financial assets, like government bonds. This process aims to directly increase private sector spending in the economy and return inflation to target. Motion: THW
THS the monetisation of reproduction (e.g. sale of oocysts, commercial surrogacy)
KCL IV 2017 · Open_Semis
THBT states should incentivize wealthy people to move to economically insolvent cities
Huber Debates · 2
THBT states should not pursue policies to reduce inequality once all citizens have an acceptable standard living
Durham IV · Novice_Finals
THW provide means-tested welfare in the form of basic goods and services (including vouchers), rather than cash payments.
Oxford IV 2017 · 1
THW require all sold products to clearly display their price in Dead Children Currency.
Oxford IV 2017 · Novice_Finals
Info slide
For the purposes of this debate, saving the life of a child via charity costs approximately 1000$. A "Dead Children Currency" is the cost of an item, translated into the number of children that could be saved from death using that amount of money. Thus, a brand new sedan might cost about 28 dead children, a meal at a nice restaurant might cost about 2 dead child cents, and a 320,000$ luxury doghouse costs about 320 dead children.
THR the creation and adoption of cryptocurrencies.
Oxford IV 2017 · Open_Quarters
THBT developing countries should heavily disincentivise rural to urban migration
FinEst 100 Open · 5
This house would force all companies worth over $1 billion to list publicly
Cambridge IV 2017 · Open_Quarters
"Utility factor" refers to the total, foreseeable impact on society produced by academic research. The utility factor is determined by the universities themselves. Motion:This House Supports the allocation of research funding in universities based purely on the utility factor of the research
NEAO 2017 · 5
Info slide
"Utility factor" refers to the total, foreseeable impact on society produced by academic research. The utility factor is determined by the universities themselves.Info slide: "Ut
This House Believes That development of infrastructure in developing countries should be led by the state, as opposed to the private sector
NEAO 2017 · 7
THS the existence of a "social credit system" (For the purposes of the debate, a "social credit system" refers to a system which assigns a rating to every citizen based on government data regarding their economic history (e.g. paying taxes, paying debts) and social behavior. Ratings impact one's ability to carry out economic transactions, such as seeking employment, renting or buying property.)
Guangdong Debate Challenge 2017 · Open_Final
THBT when systemically important financial institutions are in need of financial assistance during recessions, creditors, rather than the government, should be liable
Mexican Open · 2
THBT developed countries should pay developing countries to preserve the rainforests
UNESCO Hong Kong SDG Debating Tournament · 1
THW condition development aid on the progress of human rights
UNESCO Hong Kong SDG Debating Tournament · 2
THBT revenue from tourism sites associated with indigenous cultures (e.g. Chichen Itza and related Mayan sites in Mexico) should be distributed directly to those communities
Lund IV · 3
This House would not give development aid to corrupt regimes.
International Competition for Young Debaters, Finals Day, 2017 · 4
THW institute a negative basic income - Round 2
NZ Easters 2017 · 2
THW place a tax on the labour of robots - Round 6
NZ Easters 2017 · 6
THR the mass deregulation of the financial sector
Tallin EUDC 2017 · Open_Semis
THBT African nations should not allow extraction of their national resources by companies from developed nations.
Western Regionals 2017 · 3
In cases when economic projects encroach on their land, THBT indigenous communities should strive for compensation over opposing the project altogether.
KL Open Challenge · 1
This House believes that the European Union should adopt the basic income
Olimpia di Debate · 1

2016 (19 motions)

THW prohibit private ownership of art deemed to be culturally or historically significant
Thessaloniki WUDC 2016 · 2
THBT all states should collectively aggregate and evenly distribute all revenue from mineral wealth globally on a per capita basis
Thessaloniki WUDC 2016 · 3
TH supports stronger collective bargaining rights and protections rather than legislated labor market regulations (e.g., wage levels and working conditions)
Thessaloniki WUDC 2016 · 7
TH would retrospectively criminalise excessively risky management practises for economically significant corporations and prosecute the executives responsible for them.
Thessaloniki WUDC 2016 · EFL_Semis
THW prefer a world in which extremely wealthy people in Western liberal states donate excess money to their governments rather than to charities
Thessaloniki WUDC 2016 · ESL_Quarters
TH would nationalize all systemically important financial institutions, such as banks and insurance companies.
Thessaloniki WUDC 2016 · Open_Octos
THBT the world's poor would be justified in pursuing complete Marxist revolution.
Thessaloniki WUDC 2016 · Open_Final
This House Would Not Provide State Funding for Art Based Higher Education, eg. art, music, drama.
London Pro-Am · 1
THW trigger a general election when a country goes into recession
Inner Temple IV · 2
THW exclusively fund domestic NGOs in developing countries as opposed to western NGOs working in developing countries
Inner Temple IV · 3
THW require that companies with >15 employees give 50% of their voting rights to employees
NorthAms · 1
THBT developing nations should enshrine legally actionable socioeconomic rights
NorthAms · 6
THBT unconditional cash transfer charities are preferable to project based charities
NorthAms · Novice_Semis
THW break up the eurozone
NorthAms · Open_Octos
TH Supports Voluntourism
Queen Mary IV · 1
THBT it is in the UK's interest to leave the EU
Queen Mary IV · 2
THBT, in developing nations with an ineffectual state school system, the government should financially incentivise (e.g through tax breaks) the creation of private schools
Warwick IV · 2
THBT it is never a legitimate economic strategy for a state to become a tax haven.
Warwick IV · 3
This House Believes the Eurozone should adopt a policy of fiscal union.
John Smith Memorial Mace - Scottish Finals · 4

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