Politics of Universal and Unconditional Cash Transfer: Examining Attitudes Toward Universal Basic Income

Soomi Lee ()

Basic Income Studies, 2021, vol. 16, issue 2, 191-208

Abstract: Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a periodic cash payment to all residents in a jurisdiction, without obligation. Universalism and unconditionality distinguish UBI from other redistributive policies that require means testing and certain behaviors to gain and maintain eligibility. Despite an increased interest in UBI, it is poorly understood how these two critical features – universalism and unconditionality – influence public attitudes toward UBI. This paper explores results of the eighth round of the European Social Survey and finds that people who support unconditionality are more likely to support UBI, as expected. But support for UBI is also significantly associated with a desire to help the poor rather than provide universal cash transfers to all individuals.

Keywords: income distribution; social policy; universal basic income; welfare state (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D9 H24 I3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bpj:bistud:v:16:y:2021:i:2:p:191-208:n:1

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DOI: 10.1515/bis-2021-0013

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