The Case for a Basic Income

The Basic Income is, for many people, a very appealing idea: Pay every citizen a fixed, non-means-tested amount every week, sufficient to pay for essentials. The potential advantages of such a system are enormous. The basic income could replace a wide range of existing means-tested benefits and result in a massive reduction in bureaucracy, huge cost-savings and greatly improved economic incentives. And it would be a kinder, more civilised way to help people out of poverty. Unfortunately, debates about the basic income are often quickly closed down by criticisms that rely on false or misleading assertions - and which often arise out of a lack of understanding of some fairly basic economics. This book aims to expose the flaws in these criticisms and explain, in plain English, the huge potential benefits of a basic income system, how it could easily be afforded and how it might best be introduced. The opportunity to introduce a basic income is a fantastic opportunity to transform our society for the better. It is an opportunity we should consider most carefully.