Universal Basic Income

Why Should Everyone Get Money from the Government?

During the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election Primaries, Andrew Yang, running as a Democrat, proposed an idea that’s been gaining popularity since: universal basic income. Now, he proposes another basic income idea for New York City. “Universal basic income (UBI) is a government program in which every adult citizen receives a set amount of money regularly,” according to Investopedia. Andrew Yang, back in 2020, proposed that this include $1,000 sent to each citizen every month.

Also known as minimum basic income, guaranteed minimum income, citizen’s income, or basic income, this system aims to cover the basic costs of living (the balance). Universal Basic Income (or UBI) can also replace other costly, overly bureaucratic forms of government assistance.

In fact, there’s a whole book about the advantages of UBI. Annie Lowry authored Give People Money: How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake the World.

The U.S. has not yet implemented any UBI system. We did have government stipends, or “Stimulus Checks,” during the pandemic — but…