Profile picture of Matthew JohnsonProfile picture of Elliott JohnsonIn this post Matthew Johnson and Elliott Johnson from Northumbria University introduce our latest impact case study, which draws together the work of the Health Case for Basic Income research group.
What is Basic Income?
A basic income (BI) is defined as:
Periodic: It is paid at regular intervals (for example every month), not as a one-off grant.
Cash payment: It is paid in an appropriate medium of exchange, allowing those who receive it to decide what they spend it on. It is not, therefore, paid either in kind (such as food or services) or in vouchers dedicated to a specific use.
Individual: It is paid on an pakistan rcs data individual basis and not, for instance, to households.
Universal: It is paid to all, without means test. Only rare examples such as serious criminal behaviour would lead to the payments being withdrawn.
Unconditional: It is paid without a requirement to work or to demonstrate willingness-to-work.
The arguments for and against basic income
Basic income (or Universal Basic Income (UBI) as it is also known) is often a polarising topic, especially at a political and government level. It is often associated with progressive politics and the left, having been supported by, for example, the British Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn and the Green Party of England and Wales. It is often discussed as a policy response when considering:
Reducing poverty and inequality
The rights, efficiency, growth and flexibility in the economy and the labour market
Supporting education and unpaid labour such as volunteering and caring
Benefits of public health
Those supporting BI as a policy often highlight the potential improvements in the above areas that a guaranteed and regular income would give people. They also highlight that it could lead to more innovation, risk-taking and gives people more freedom to make choices. Advocates also highlight that the scheme would be socially just.