Called to Serve: Elevating Human-Performed Caregiver and Volunteer Work in an Era of AI-Robotic Technologies

Abstract

In the decades ahead, as technology disintermediates (removes) humans from market transactions, policymakers will need to redefine what constitutes socially and economically “valuable” transactions, in other words: work. Because the work performed by caregivers and volunteers support our nation’s families and communities and generates significant economic value, this Essay argues that forward-looking public and tax policies should: (1) expressly define “valuable” work to include caregiver and volunteer services and (2) link individual economic benefit with the performance of such work via a refundable tax credit.

Keywords: tax policy, artificial intelligence, robots, volunteers, caregivers, tax credits

JEL Classification: K34, K31, K36