Abstract
A Citizen's Income (sometimes called a Basic Income, a Universal Grant, a Social Dividend, or a Universal Benefit) is an unconditional, nonwithdrawable income for every individual as a right of citizenship. To replace some of the UK current tax system and much of the benefits system with a Citizen's Income would offer important positive benefits for society and the economy. Means-tested benefits are withdrawn as earnings rise, but a Citizen's Income would not be, thus making it easier for individuals and households to increase their net income. Current means-tested benefits pay less to a couple than to two individuals, thus imposing difficult decisions and intrusive investigations on claimants, whereas a Citizen's Income, because paid to each individual, would not interfere with people's relationships. The book employs thought-experiments to introduce a Citizen's Income, offers historical context, asks why some reform proposals succeed and some fail, and explores different ways of implementing a Citizen's Income. Existing universal benefits and recent pilot projects are described. A list of criteria for a good benefits system is then constructed, and both the UK's existing system and a Citizen's Income are evaluated against the criteria. The book discusses effects on the labour market, affordability, funding mechanisms, political feasibility, who should receive a Citizen's Income, alternative proposals, and the problems that a Citizen's Income would not solve. The book concludes that the significant benefits that a Citizen's Income would offer to our society and economy mean that a substantial pilot project, and then full implementation, are essential.
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