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The Universal Basic Income

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  • Philippe Van Parijs

Abstract

Utopian thinking consists of formulating proposals for radical reforms, justifying them on the basis of normative principles combined with the best possible scientific analysis of the root causes of the problems the proposals are meant to address, and subjecting these proposals to unindulgent critical scrutiny. Such utopian thinking is indispensable, and contributing to it is part of sociology’s core business. This article illustrates these claims by considering one particular utopian proposal: an unconditional basic income paid to every member of society on an individual basis, without means test or work requirement. It summarizes the main arguments that support this proposal, mentions a number of contexts in which it is being taken seriously, and sketches a number of ways in which sociological insights and research are crucially relevant to the discussion of the economic and political sustainability of an unconditional basic income.

Suggested Citation

  • Philippe Van Parijs, 2013. "The Universal Basic Income," Politics & Society, , vol. 41(2), pages 171-182, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:polsoc:v:41:y:2013:i:2:p:171-182
    DOI: 10.1177/0032329213483106
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Major Aaron, 2016. "Affording Utopia: The Economic Viability of “A Capitalist Road to Communism”," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 11(2), pages 75-95, December.
    2. Katharina Bohnenberger, 2020. "Money, Vouchers, Public Infrastructures? A Framework for Sustainable Welfare Benefits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-30, January.
    3. Benjamin Heslop & Antony Drew & Elizabeth Stojanovski & Kylie Bailey & Jonathan Paul, 2018. "Collaboration Vouchers: A Policy to Increase Population Wellbeing," Societies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Andrew F. Johnson & Katherine J. Roberto, 2020. "The COVID‐19 pandemic: Time for a universal basic income?," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 40(4), pages 232-235, October.
    5. Luke Haywood, 2014. "Bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen: eine ökonomische Perspektive," DIW Roundup: Politik im Fokus 33, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    6. Mohammad Rasoolinejad, 2019. "Universal Basic Income: The Last Bullet in the Darkness," Papers 1910.05658, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2021.
    7. Meixing Dai & Nicolas Mazuy, 2017. "La faisabilité et les périls du financement du revenu universel," Bulletin de l'Observatoire des politiques économiques en Europe, Observatoire des Politiques Économiques en Europe (OPEE), vol. 36(1), pages 3-8, June.
    8. Bernadeta Baran, 2015. "Welfare State Challenges And The Concept Of Basic Income," Economy & Business Journal, International Scientific Publications, Bulgaria, vol. 9(1), pages 275-289.
    9. Martin Josh, 2016. "Universal Credit to Basic Income: A Politically Feasible Transition?," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 11(2), pages 97-131, December.
    10. Susan L. Prescott & Alan C. Logan, 2018. "Larger Than Life: Injecting Hope into the Planetary Health Paradigm," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-27, March.
    11. Alexandra Lenis Escobar & Ramón Rueda López & Jorge E. García Guerrero & Enrique Salinas Cuadrado, 2020. "Design of Strategies for the Implementation and Management of a Complementary Monetary System Using the SWOT-AHP Methodology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-23, August.

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