Universal Basic Income: a Psychological Impact Assessment

Universal Basic Income: A Psychological Impact Assessment recently arrived migrants to get involved in What if... community activities? She could do this with a Universal Basic Income. ...Just to make ends meet, Rachel did not need to do a late-night shift in Tesco, after giving her ...Paul and Amina could upgrade their computer children their tea and working all day as a low- system to make running their start-up business paid carer for a home care agency? She could more efficient? They could do this with a do this with a Universal Basic Income. Universal basic Income. ...Abdul, instead of working the long hours in the ...Jessica, tied financially to an abusive finance organisation, reduced his hours and spent husband, had the financial independence to more time at home with his two young children? leave him? She could do this with a Universal He could do this with a Universal Basic Income. Basic Income. ...Grace, instead of going back to work full ...Irene and Daryl could be sure they had enough time after maternity leave, was able to afford money for food if the agencies they worked for to return part time? She could do this with a had no work for them this week. They could do Universal Basic Income. this with a Universal Basic Income. ...Will, instead of working as a barista in between ...Michelle, instead of undergoing work commissions for his graphic design service, capability assessments, could decide the hours spent the time developing his skills? He could do she was able to work, on what, and where? She this with a Universal Basic Income. could with a Universal Basic Income. ...Jenny could afford to continue to work, ...Single parents Angeliki, Marie and Jo had the unpaid, in the community centre, enabling confidence to set up a local childcare group and go back to college? They could do this with a Universal Basic Income. ...We all valued caring, community work, time with friends and creative activities as much as paid employment? We might with a Universal Basic Income. In a society in which UBI is part of normal everyday life we would antici- pate that there would be lower rates of poverty, more entrepreneurialism, more artistic adventuring, lower crime rates, greater stability and sustainability, with people working within their communities to develop new ideas. There could be more inclusion, more cooperation, less violence, more respect for those with lower incomes, good mental health and collective well-being. Executive Summary This briefing paper is the beginning of a reduction in hospital admissions; reduced psychological impact assessment of the stigmatisation of those on low incomes; universal basic income policy (UBI), which positive impact on the social standing of would guarantee a regular, unconditional women, especially those on low incomes; basic income for all citizens of a nation, continued commitments to paid employment; whatever their employment status, empowerment of women; and increased life throughout their lifetime. satisfaction and happiness of those in receipt of payments. Further experiments with different basic income models are currently underway u Key features of UBI in Europe, however more UBI-specific pilots The cornerstone of UBI is a regular, non-means are needed. Nevertheless, a picture of the tested, guaranteed income, delivered to every potential positive impacts of UBI on well-being is citizen of and beyond working age. The potential emerging. for an increased sense of security that such a policy could bring is clear. u Structural changes resulting Different models of UBI have shown that it is from UBI affordable, provided sensible and progressive UBI would lead to a fundamental shift of power, tax reform is introduced. UBI can incorporate changing the relationship between citizens, existing welfare benefits for the especially employers and the state. UBI would enable vulnerable so special payments for housing and citizens to choose jobs and how long to work. disability costs can continue for at-risk groups. This would result in an improvement of pay and conditions in poor-quality jobs that are largely meaningless, as employers would have to work u Wider context for introducing UBI harder to attract employees. The wider context of our society is one of large disparities in wealth and income and a rapidly Work would become something where people changing landscape of work with an increase can achieve their own aspirations through in precarious and uncertain employment, with meaningful activity instead of simply trying people in poverty whether in work or not. Our to make ends meet. Employers would get a society is one of the most unequal societies in more motivated workforce that would be more the world. We are also one of the richest - this engaged. Furthermore, the welfare and social cannot be right. security systems would be enormously simplified. Technological advances, automation and the changes to the nature of work and working u Psychological benefits of UBI practices make it highly likely that there will be The psychosocial benefits of UBI are potentially greater precarity of work across the lifespan wide ranging. Evidence from previous Basic in the future, and new models of providing for Income-oriented experiments indicate the sufficient, reliable income will be needed. potential for UBI to increase all five psychological indicators of a healthy society: agency, security, connection, meaning and trust. u The lessons from studies of Basic Income models so far The security and flexibility of a UBI is likely to There have been several experiments that give citizens a stronger sense of agency, greater have looked at the effect of different forms of personal mastery and more control over their providing a basic income to individuals, such lives, which evidence shows would lead to an as negative income tax models, partial and full increase in life satisfaction. The population could basic income models. Findings have included: have more time to spend with friends, family improved physical and mental health and a and in their communities and would experience higher levels of social support as a result, which u Recommendations is incredibly important for well-being. People With all the known improvements in the lives might gain a renewed sense of purpose and of people who have experienced a form of meaning through activities outside of currently basic income, and the potential benefits of a constructed ‘paid’ employment, leading to a Universal Basic Income described in this paper, weakening of the current over-importance can we afford not to explore, rigorously test placed on paid work as part of the “good life”. and implement a system that could lead to a UBI is likely to lead to a general increase in social psychologically healthier population? trust and a lessening of the shame, humiliation and devaluation that comes with relying on means-tested welfare benefits or being occupied We therefore call for: in unpaid caring. • More trials of UBI in the UK, incorporating In the light of all these positive social impacts psychological impact measurements, of UBI, its introduction has the potential to be a including the healthy social indicators of hugely significant and beneficial public health sense of agency and control; uncertainty intervention. and security; connections with others; sense of meaning and purpose in life; and social trust and cohesion. u Uncertainties and UBI Some uncertainties, and the possibility of • A Mental Well-being Impact Assessment to negative impacts with the introduction of UBI be conducted as part of future investigations have been identified. These are centred on how of UBI. This is a process of scrutinising policy minority groups are placed and positioned proposals according to a set of evidence- negatively within society; the potentially based criteria linked to well-being. It is damaging impact of reduced labour market especially important to assess impact on the participation, particularly on women who may most vulnerable groups. retreat into the home; and the impact of how prevailing and dominant cultural values (such • The prioritisation of implementing and as materialism and conspicuous consumption) investigating policies and interventions would influence the potential psychological that support the development of benefits of UBI. Furthermore, if the right income social cohesion, civic participation and level is not provided, some people may become community trust-building. These can worse off under UBI than the current system benefit well-being now and can support the of welfare and income support. These are all effective implementation of future UBI. issues that with a little thought and the will to make effective change can be addressed as the • Cross disciplinary collaborations, (for e.g. project is tested and rolled out. between psychologists and economists) to investigate UBI to better understand the impact of changes in economic and social u Alternative policy proposals conditions on psychological processes, There are alternative policy proposals that also in line with understanding how policy have a positive impact on wellbeing, including translates into well-being. comprehensive policy and tax-reform packages; job guarantee schemes; participation income • Members of Parliament, business leaders proposals; and civic economy interventions that and local politicians to listen to our call forefront participation in local communities. for a new way of forging a more equal While there are merits to each of these, the and psychologically healthy society, and potential benefits to overall well-being are not a future fit for our children. thought to be as comprehensive as those of UBI. this paper we advocate setting it at a level high 1. Introduction enough to allow basic needs to be met and when discussing potential impacts we make The causes of emotional distress and how it the assumption that UBI would be set at this can best be alleviated are both topics that level.

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