The Latest News On Universal Basic Income

 Universal basic income (UBI) has been an ongoing topic of discussion and experimentation in various countries around the world. Here are some of the latest developments:

  1. Pilots and Experiments: Several countries have conducted pilot projects to test the feasibility and impact of UBI. Some of the notable ones include Finland, Canada, and Spain. Finland conducted a two-year experiment from 2017 to 2018, providing a monthly income of €560 to 2,000 unemployed citizens. Canada’s Ontario province also launched a pilot project in 2017, but it was later canceled by the new government in 2018. Most recently, Spain announced a new pilot program in December 2020, which will provide a basic income of €462 ($560) per month to around 1,000 low-income households for three years.

  2. Political Support: UBI has gained support from politicians across the political spectrum. In the United States, several presidential candidates in the 2020 election, including Andrew Yang and Bernie Sanders, advocated for UBI. In Europe, there are calls for UBI from political parties in Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. In Scotland, the government has announced plans to launch a basic income pilot project.

  3. COVID-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a safety net and has sparked renewed interest in UBI. Several countries, including the United States, Canada, and Spain, have provided direct cash payments to citizens as part of their COVID-19 relief efforts. These payments have been described as a form of UBI or emergency basic income.

  4. Criticism: UBI has also faced criticism, with some arguing that it would be too expensive to implement and could disincentivize work. Others argue that it does not address the root causes of poverty and inequality and could be used as an excuse to dismantle existing social welfare programs.

In summary, UBI continues to be a topic of debate and experimentation around the world, with some countries launching pilot projects and others exploring the feasibility of implementing a UBI.

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