Giving all citizens a fixed amount of money every month, without any obligation or verification of conditions... It seems utopian and, for many people, a huge waste. For others, however, it is the future of welfare: Universal Basic Income (UBI). The debate around this radical measure is very heated, but there is one thing that detractors can no longer ignore. Which? Experiments carried out around the world show concrete effects and, often, incredibly positive.
Stories of welfare and UBI from A to K
The idea of a guaranteed income for all is not new. The first proposals date back to the 16th century, but it is only in recent decades that UBI has gained concreteness, with the implementation of various experiments in various countries. Here are some of them, in alphabetical order: from A for Alaska to K for Kenya.
Let's start from Alaska, an example that is emblematic in its own way. There since 1982 every citizen has received an annual dividend (derived from oil revenues). This system has contributed to reducing poverty and improving the well-being of the population. The same goes for the Barbados, that they started the process for their experiment in December 2021, in the middle of the pandemic. In Denver, in the USA, the experiment has reduced drastically the number of homeless and unemployed.
Continuous?
In Finland, a two-year experiment provided 2.000 unemployed people with a monthly income of 560 euros. The results were encouraging, we have documented them here. A summary? Beneficiaries reported improved psychological well-being and greater economic security.
In Kenya, the nonprofit organization GiveDirectly has distributed a $12 monthly subsidy to poor families for 50 years. The impact has been positive: increased income, starting small businesses and greater economic resilience.
Of course, not all experiments were so obviously successful: In some American cities, for example, UBI has not led to a significant increase in employment. However, it is important to note that these projects were short-lived and small-scale.
And in Italy?
A proposal for a universal and unconditional basic income has been at the center of one petition through a European Citizens' Initiative (ICE), which also saw good participation from Italian citizens. And on a government level?
There are currently no Universal Basic Income (UBI) experiments underway in the Bel Paese, but there have been discussions and welfare proposals related to this idea. The debate continues, and if you want my opinion you can read peacefully this piece on Slow News who seems to read my mind.
A future for UBI is a future of welfare for all
The debate on UBI is still open. Supporters highlight its benefits in terms of reducing poverty, inequality and stress. Critics question the economic sustainability of this welfare measure, and the impact on the labor market.
Research and field experience offer interesting insights. UBI is not a panacea, but it can be an important building block for a more effective and inclusive welfare system. From the analysis of the various experiments, valuable lessons emerge for designing sustainable UBI models capable of responding to the challenges of the 21st century, such as job automation and the aging population.
The research and data collected so far pave the way for a future in which Universal Basic Income can play a key role in building a more just and resilient society.
UBI is an ambitious idea with the potential to transform our welfare system. The research and experiments conducted so far offer encouraging results and pave the way for a future in which this measure could play a key role in improving the lives of millions of people.
