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The mental health effects of a Universal Basic Income: A synthesis of the evidence from previous pilots

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  • Wilson, Naomi
  • McDaid, Shari

Abstract

Amongst its advocates, one of the key arguments for a Universal Basic Income (UBI) is its potential to improve population mental health. However, while previous authors have variously examined the potential effects of UBI on income, employment and labour market demand, the direct mental health consequences of previous pilots have been less frequently examined. The purpose of this paper is therefore to conduct a review of the literature on UBI and to re-examine the existing research with a mental health focus.

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  • Wilson, Naomi & McDaid, Shari, 2021. "The mental health effects of a Universal Basic Income: A synthesis of the evidence from previous pilots," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:287:y:2021:i:c:s0277953621007061
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114374
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    4. Vincent A. Fusaro, 2025. "Poverty in the Pandemic: Policy Lessons From COVID‐19 by Zachary Parolin. New York: Russell Sage, 2023, 288 pp., $42.50 (paperback)," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(1), pages 340-344, January.
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    6. Brydon, Robbie & Haseeb, Saud Bin & Park, Gum-Ryeong & Ziegler, Carolyn & Hwang, Stephen W. & Forget, Evelyn L. & Persaud, Navindra & Siddiqi, Arjumand & Dunn, James R., 2024. "The effect of cash transfers on health in high-income countries: A scoping review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).

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