Universal Basic Income: What Everyone Needs to Know®

by Matt Zwolinski, Miranda Perry Fleischer

From Finland to Kenya to Stockton, California, more and more governments and private philanthropic organizations are putting the idea of a Universal Basic Income to the test. But can the reality live up to the hype?

The motivating idea of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) is radically give people cash and let them do whatever they want with it. But does this simple idea have the potential to radically transform our society? Is a UBI the ultimate solution to the problem of poverty? Is it the solution to automation-induced unemployment? Can it help solve gender and racial inequality?

This book provides the average citizen with all the information they need to understand current debates about the UBI. It recounts the history of the idea, from its origins in the writings of 18th century radical intellectuals to contemporary discussions centered on unemployment caused by technological advances such as artificial intelligence. It discusses current pilot programs in the United States and around the world, including how much (or little) we can learn from such experiments about how a large-scale UBI would fare in the real world. It explores both the promises and pitfalls of a UBI, taking seriously the arguments of both supporters and detractors. It also explains why the UBI has attracted supporters from all across the ideological spectrum--from conservatives to liberals, libertarians to socialists--and what the implications of this fact are for its political future.

How much would a UBI cost? Who would be eligible to receive it? Would it discourage work? Would people squander it on drugs and alcohol? Would it contribute to inflation? And how is it different from existing social welfare programs? This book provides an objective, expert guide to these questions and more, and is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand what could be the 21st century's most important public policy debate.

Genres: Economics, Politics, Philosophy, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2023

Reviews

[A. Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a clearly written and concise introduction to Universal Basic Income. Aside from a handful of (IMO) weaker chapters, the philosophical and economic issues are handled adeptly throughout (though, of course, the authors would be the first to admit that they are barely scratching the surface of some of these debates). I would recommend this book to anyone interested in getting up to speed on the various debates surrounding UBI, as well as to teachers or professors who need something short and accessible to assign for their students. I myself will be assigning some of the chapters in a forthcoming course containing a unit on technological unemployment. I wish there were more introductory works of this kind in PPE (politics, philosophy, and economics).

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me first say, this is a good book. However, as a UBI supporter it was frustrating to hear the authors speak repeatedly about how a large scale UBI is unrealistic. Much of this unrealistic talk comes from the cost of a UBI, which is obviously important, but much of the funding for a UBI will be somewhat unknown in a butterfly effect of cost savings. For instance, the police spend a majority of their time on petty crime. Petty crime is predominantly driven by desperation. Providing people resources in advance dramatically reduces petty crime. So, how much money that we're currently spending on law enforcement can be diverted. You can do similar math on healthcare, and education. If your funding models focus predominately on taxation a UBI will almost certainly look unrealistic, and that's this books issue. Aside from that, it's a pretty good book, very informative.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

minor state bureaucrats taking a capitalist idea of the 1970s, and building a political platform.