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This book provides a state-of-the-art overview of the popularity of basic income among the general public. Using data from a wide array of public opinion polls conducted in different countries and years, the book first charts popular support for the ideal-typical version of basic income, broadly defined as a "periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement". On top of that, the book maps popular support for the many other, differently designed varieties of basic income that are part of real-world proposals, pilots, and experiments - including, for example, a participation income, a negative income tax, and a stakeholder grant. By investigating how and why support for different types of basic income varies across countries, evolves over time, and differs between individuals with different characteristics, this book offers crucial information about the political constituencies that can be mobilized in favor of (or against) the introduction of basic income, thereby contributing to our knowledge on the political feasibility of basic income.
List of contents
1. Introduction: How Popular is Basic Income?.- 1.1. Basic income: From a disarmingly simple idea to a deceptively simple one.- 1.2. The popularity of basic income.- 2. Popular Support for the Ideal-typical Basic Income.- 2.1. Across the board.- 2.2. Individual differences.- 3. Popular Support for Differently Designed Varieties of Basic Income.- 3.1. Across the board.- 3.2. Individual differences.- 4. Reasons for Supporting or Opposing Basic Income.- 4.1. Across the board.- 4.2. Individual differences. 5. Conclusion: Implications for the Political Feasibility of Basic Income.- 5.1. Eight political challenges and their opportunities.- 5.2. A research agenda.
About the author
Tijs Laenen is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences of Tilburg University, the Netherlands, where he holds a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship, and at the Centre for Sociological Research of KU Leuven, Belgium, where he is coordinator of the "Basic Income in Belgium" project.
Report
"Tijs Laenen's excellent new book on the popularity of basic income, which shows a plurality or majority of respondents in many contexts expressing support for a basic income. ... Laenen groups the agenda into research on the causes, the overall level, and the consequences of support for basic income. There are plenty of stimulating ideas and suggestions within ... is a particularly eye-catching one. ... It stands out as a fruitful avenue for future research to pursue." (Joe Chrisp, International Social Security Review, Vol. 77 (1-2), 2024)
