Money for everyone : Universal Basic Income

Universal Basic income or unconditional basic income is a form of social welfare system which aims at distribution of unconditional and equal income to all the citizens. All citizens benefit from it regardless of their skill , requirement of work or other sources of income.

The idea behind the concept was that Universal Basic income will help reducing inequalities and bridge the ever increasing gap between the rich and the poor.

It is a form of minimum guaranteed income which differs from other similar concepts in the following ways :

• It is paid to individuals and not households
• It is not dependent on an individual's alternate sources of income
• It is not dependent on any kind of work done or willingness to work .

The idea of universal basic income was first proposed in the 16^th century . Discussed and debated through the centuries which followed on grounds of social dividend and national dividend by the economists and socialists views , the 20^th century saw the emergence of a full fledged universal basic income scheme called the Alaska Permanent Fund. It is an annual dividend payed to all the citizens of Alaska.

The idea was then well received and considered for discussions in other parts of the world including Europe. Basic Income European Network (BIEN) was founded in 1986 with a purpose to serve as a bridge between individuals or groups interested and in support of Universal basic Income, i.e. an income unconditionally granted to all on an individual basis, without means test or work requirement. It also aims at promoting discussions on this topic in the countries of Europe.

In 2008 an official petition for basic income was started in Germany by Susanne Wiest which was later closed by the German Parliament. In 2015, a citizen's initiative in Spain aimed at a similar movement with a signature campaign but was not able to gather the required number of signatures. Switzerland managed the required signature numbers and will hold the world's first universal basic income referendum in June 2016.

The last two decades have witnessed an increase in the willingness of states to adopt this idea fully or partially. The discussions from various social , political and economical perspectives have been going around for its implementation. A growing number of scholars and social researchers see it as a way to tackle the increasing unemployment.

It is also seen as a measure to distribute the wealth produced by the society back to the people ensuring the benefits reach everyone.

Social policy and economic policy aiming reforms are dependent on each other and basic income is one viable way of reconciling two of their respective central objectives: poverty relief and full employment.