Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything

by Matthew Johnson

In recent years, Basic Income has risen up the political agenda with successful trials being run in different countries, but does it have the potential to transform the economy?
Drawing on the expert author team’s multidisciplinary research programme, the book uses real world examples to show how basic income irreversibly improves almost all aspects of society. It traces distinct, but related, pathways from the input of money to the output of improved health, wellbeing, education, employment and civic activity.
Using a model of impact to provide an accessible account of transformation in behaviour, relationships and institutions, it shows that reducing poverty through basic income increases access to better food, housing and other goods, frees people from domination and promotes long-term thinking and action. Together these improve individual and collective experiences, charting a pathway to a society rebuilt through a single policy.
This is a defining contribution to public understanding of basic income that highlights the reasons for our age of crisis.

148 pages, Paperback

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Matthew 2^ Johnson: GR Author, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic Realism
Matthew 3^ Johnson: GR Author, Fantasy
Matthew 4^ Johnson: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Short Stories
Matthew 5^ Johnson: Organic Life
Matthew 6^ Johnson: Biography for Children, History

Reviews

[Darran Mclaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

We hosted a launch for this book last week. It is a snappy, succinct manifesto in favour of a Basic Income. It provides a lot of evidence that a basic income is achievable in the UK, and that it would help to mitigate and overcome many aspects of the polycrisis we find ourselves in. It should be possible to make this government policy, and appeal to a huge cross section of the electorate. If Labour adopted it, it would mean that their victory over Reform at the next election would be guaranteed. Instead, they will allow Reform to outflank them on the Left on economic policies, and are instead trying to outflank Reform on the Right on their social policies. This will guarantee their loss, and will shift the UK towards the Far Right. Why would they do this when there is a policy position that would be wildly popular with their voter base, and with a much larger cross section of the electorate? Because a Basic Income would undermine the basis of Capitalism, which they cannot allow.

I like a lot of things about a Basic Income. I like that it offers people individual freedom and choice. A lot of people on the left are opposed to it and say that we should have universal basic services instead. I like that idea too, but I also think that some people on the Left don't trust the idea of giving people money to do with as they will.

However, the fact is that Capitalism absolutely depends on the ability to dominate people and force them to do bad jobs for bad pay and conditions, under the threat of being turfed out of work and made unemployed. If there was a Basic Income set at a level at which people could live, they would not be forced to take a really shit job at which they are treated badly. They could hold out and find something they prefer, or do something else with their time. Capitalism could not survive this.

[Julia Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, easy to understand book about basic income.

Well-researched and compelling writing.

The book is co-authored by an impressive team, all from different academic backgrounds.

Worth a look.

[Luke Cunnah · Rating 5 out of 5]

All those in favour say aye