Universal basic income

Some people think of a new idea.

It is called basic income. In this plan, every person gets money. They get it even if they do not work. This money helps them buy food and things they need.

Some lands have tried this before. Mongolia and Iran have used it. In the U.S., Alaska gives money to its people.

Some people think this is a great way to help. Others worry it might cost too much. They also wonder if people will still want to work.

It is a big idea that many people still talk about today.

Universal basic income is a big idea. It is a plan where all people get money. They get this money regularly. They do not have to work to get it. They also do not have to prove they are poor. This is different from other help. Other help often goes only to people in need.

Some people call this a full basic income. This is if the money covers all basic needs. If the money is less, it is a partial basic income. Mongolia and Iran have used partial plans. In Alaska, the state gives money to all residents.

People have thought about this for a long time. In ancient Rome, leaders gave money to citizens. In the 1500s, Thomas More wrote about it. In the 1700s, Thomas Paine suggested social insurance. Later, Henry George spoke about taxes on land.

Today, people talk about it because of AI. AI is a type of smart computer technology. Some worry AI will take many jobs. They think basic income could help people. Critics worry it costs too much money. They also fear people might stop working.

Universal basic income, or UBI, is a plan for social welfare. In this system, all people in a group receive money regularly. This payment is called an unconditional transfer. This means people get the money without a test to see if they are poor. They also do not have to perform any work to earn it. This is different from a guaranteed minimum income. That type of money only goes to people who do not have enough to live on.

There are different ways to set up these payments. If the money meets all basic needs, it is a full basic income. If the amount is smaller, it is a partial basic income. No country has used a full UBI system as of 2025. However, Mongolia and Iran have used partial systems in the past. Some places have programs that look similar. For example, child benefits help guardians of children. Pensions help people who are retired.

People have discussed this idea for a very long time. In ancient Egypt, the state gave grain to the public during hard times. In ancient Rome, Julius Caesar gave 100 denarii to common citizens in 46 BC. The emperor Trajan also gave money to citizens who applied. In 1516, Thomas More wrote about a society with guaranteed income. In 1797, Thomas Paine proposed a system of social insurance. He wanted to use a tax on land to help the community.

Many different thinkers have added to this history. Henry George suggested a system based on taxes for natural resources. In the early 1900s, Bertrand Russell argued for a small income for everyone. In the 1960s, Milton Friedman proposed a negative income tax. This is a system where people receive less money as they earn more. In the United States, President Lyndon B. Johnson fought a war on poverty. These ideas helped shape how governments help their people today.

Today, the debate about UBI is very active. Many people talk about it because of artificial intelligence, or AI. AI is smart computer technology that can do many tasks. Some worry that AI will take away many human jobs. They think UBI could help people benefit from a society's wealth. Critics have different views on the plan. They worry it might cost too much money. They also fear that people might stop working if they receive money for free.

Universal basic income, or UBI, is a social welfare proposal. It suggests that all members of a population receive a regular minimum income. This payment is an unconditional transfer. This means the money is given without a means test. A means test is a way to check if a person is poor enough to need help. People do not have to perform work to receive UBI. This differs from a guaranteed minimum income, or GMI. GMI is only paid to those who do not have enough income to live on.

There are different ways to categorize these payments. If the amount meets a person's basic needs, it is a full basic income. This level is usually at or above the poverty line. If the payment is less than that amount, it is a partial basic income. As of 2025, no country has implemented a full UBI system. However, Mongolia and Iran have both used partial UBI systems in the past. Some programs are similar but not unconditional. For example, child benefits provide income for guardians. Pensions provide income for retired persons.

History shows that the idea of unconditional payments is very old. In Ancient Egypt, the state owned granaries. These granaries dispensed grain to the public during hard times. In Rome, leaders gave money to common citizens. Julius Caesar gave 100 denarii to citizens in 46 BC. The emperor Trajan gave 650 denarii to citizens who applied. In 1516, Thomas More wrote about a guaranteed income in his book, Utopia. He argued that providing a livelihood would prevent people from becoming thieves.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, thinkers developed more specific ideas. Thomas Paine wrote about reforms to abolish poverty in 1797. He proposed a social insurance system funded by a 10% inheritance tax on land. He believed land value belonged to the community. Later, Henry George proposed a system based on a single tax on land and natural resources. This led to Georgism, an ideology where land rent belongs to all members of society. In the early 20th century, Bertrand Russell argued for a small income for all. He believed this income should cover basic necessities.

In the mid-20th century, the debate became more political. In the 1960s, economist Milton Friedman proposed a negative income tax, or NIT. In an NIT, citizens receive less money as they earn more. This effect eventually reverses as earnings increase. In the United States, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a war on poverty. This led to many discussions about guaranteed income. In 1968, 1,200 economists signed a document calling for a guaranteed income for every American.

Today, UBI is discussed alongside new technologies like artificial intelligence, or AI. AI involves smart computer systems that can perform human tasks. Many people worry that automation will reduce the number of available jobs. They suggest UBI could allow everyone to benefit from a society's wealth. This could lead to a post-scarcity economy. This is an economy where goods are so abundant that they are not scarce. Proponents believe UBI provides a financial basis for people to find work that suits their strengths.

Critics of UBI raise several important concerns. Some argue that a full basic income is not financially feasible. They worry the cost would be too high for governments to pay. Others fear that UBI would lead to fewer people working. They believe people might lose the incentive to hold jobs. Additionally, some consider it socially unjust. They argue that everyone should not receive the same amount regardless of their individual needs. These debates continue to shape how modern nations think about welfare and work.