Date on Senior Honors Thesis
12-2021
Document Type
Senior Honors Thesis
Degree Name
B.S.
Department
Political Science
Degree Program
College of Arts and Sciences
Author's Keywords
Welfare; Universal Basic Income; Western Countries; UBI; Basic Income; Guaranteed Income
Abstract
The development of welfare within western cultures has become incredibly polarized over the last decades. Propositions for ideas such as Universal Basic Income (UBI) has reemerged into the mainstream conversation, with some lofty promises. What is the credibility of UBI as a welfare policy platform? Do the results of the studies on the effects of cash-transfers show the possibility of UBI as a new national program, or do they reveal issues that highlight major structural problems with UBI? This thesis examines over twenty different studies within various categories of cash-transfers to see the positives and negatives revealed by previous researchers. The analysis of these results reveals that while certain versions of cash-transfers can reduce the likelihood of recipients to work, other programs had little effect on work behavior or increased the possibility. Additionally, the programs tended to show positive effects on the physical and mental health of the recipients. Some of the programs also had beneficial effects to the local economies of the regions it took place within. The overall results paint a generally positive picture of the potential of cash-transfers and UBI programs for improving the conditions of recipients, with downsides being identified as dependent on the version of cash-transfer utilized for the program.
Recommended Citation
Baker, Zachary Paul, "Assessing universal basic income proposals: a comprehensive analysis of established studies." (2021). College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses. Paper 287.
Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/honors/287
Lay Summary
The development of welfare within western cultures has become incredibly polarized over the last decades. Propositions for ideas such as Universal Basic Income (UBI) has reemerged into the mainstream conversation, with some lofty promises. What is the credibility of UBI as a welfare policy platform? Do the results of the studies on the effects of cash-transfers show the possibility of UBI as a new national program, or do they reveal issues that highlight major structural problems with UBI? This thesis examines over twenty different studies within various categories of cash-transfers to see the positives and negatives revealed by previous researchers. The analysis of these results reveals that while certain versions of cash-transfers can reduce the likelihood of recipients to work, other programs had little effect on work behavior or increased the possibility. Additionally, the programs tended to show positive effects on the physical and mental health of the recipients. Some of the programs also had beneficial effects to the local economies of the regions it took place within. The overall results paint a generally positive picture of the potential of cash-transfers and UBI programs for improving the conditions of recipients, with downsides being identified as dependent on the version of cash-transfer utilized for the program.
