Universal basic income (UBI) has supporters across the political spectrum. The idea is that if every citizen received a payment from the state to cover their living costs, it this will allow them the freedom to live as they choose.
But voters who turned down a UBI pilot in a recent referendum in the German city of Hamburg apparently found something to dislike. A frequent argument against UBI is that recipients will decide to work less. This in turn will make labour (and consequently labour-intensive products) more expensive.
Indeed, a recent study on a UBI experiment has found that recipients of an unconditional monthly transfer of US$1,000 (£760) were significantly less likely to work. And if they did work, they put in fewer hours than a control group who received only US$50 per month.
On an individual level you’re right. $750 does not cover the cost of living. However, when combined with a couple that, not only doubles how much the family is taking in, increases the likelihood that 1 of the 2 either doesn’t work or works less.
That’s why it’s so fucked up that the older generation rails against this given it was the standard practice when they were working age…