Yeah, that basically is semantic. UBI would achieve the same thing, but, instead of negative tax, would just credit everyone and then alter the tax rates to achieve equilibrium.
Personally, the improved efficiency from simply collapsing the existing apparatus which is focused on preventing people from cheating seems likely to work. If the goal of the program was to fairly allocate a resource, rather than to prevent people from cheating it would consume a lot less overhead. that is where you can actually find some of the efficiency that the author wants.
Honestly, if you cut a check to a millionaire for $1000, and then tax that person on that $1000, it doesn't work that differently from the fact that we get taxed on the value of our tax returns. it ends up being recursive anyway.
Personally, the improved efficiency from simply collapsing the existing apparatus which is focused on preventing people from cheating seems likely to work. If the goal of the program was to fairly allocate a resource, rather than to prevent people from cheating it would consume a lot less overhead. that is where you can actually find some of the efficiency that the author wants.
Honestly, if you cut a check to a millionaire for $1000, and then tax that person on that $1000, it doesn't work that differently from the fact that we get taxed on the value of our tax returns. it ends up being recursive anyway.