The Many Faces of Universal Basic Income

Jurgen De Wispelaere, Trinity College Dublin
Lindsay Stirton, University of East-Anglia

Abstract

As the debate on unconditional basic income, basic capital and cognate schemes matures, it has become necessary to rethink the idea of universalism in welfare policy. This paper argues that future research should move beyond discussion of principles or ideal-type policy schemes, and focus more on the details of concrete policy design and implementation. Neglect of implementation issues, we argue, risks impeding the political and administrative feasibility of universal basic income. This paper contributes to this enterprise by outlining seven dimensions along which concrete proposals vary, and suggests ways in which decisions on each dimension will determine the shape as well as the effects of the policy in practice.