Thank you for contacting me about universal basic income (UBI).
Ideas of a universal basic income have, as I am sure you are aware, been subject to debate and discussion for some time. It is important that we have had this debate, and I hope that UBI-style systems continue to be subject to research and discussion, so that our approach to welfare can remain informed.
The question of feasibility is one we should consider. No matter how desirable a UBI-style programme might be, it must also be feasible in the present context of our economy. When considering feasibility, we must address whether such a programme would be affordable, and whether it could be introduced in a manner that prevented losses amongst the most vulnerable in our society.
A report from Compass, a think-tank, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, found that UBI would be prohibitively expensive, would create too many losers among the poorest families, would dramatically increase the number of children living in poverty (as was also found in modelling by the Citizen’s Income Trust), and would dramatically increase inequality because it would not account for individual needs and circumstances.
Continued on attachment below...