UBI Essays & Books

Articles

“Money for nothing: is universal basic income about to transform society?” (The Guardian, Jul 2024) — Highlights pilot schemes (Ireland, Canada, Stockton) showing improved financial stability and purpose amid AI-driven economic insecurity en.wikipedia.org+2ubiadvocates.org+2time.com+2theguardian.com.

“Here's an idea: a worldwide universal basic income paid for by a carbon tax” (Business Insider, Jun 2024) — Presents a visionary model: global UBI funded by carbon taxation, potentially boosting global GDP by up to 130% businessinsider.com.

“Artificial intelligence isn't a good argument for basic income” (Vox, 2024) — Reviews a large-scale US randomized UBI ($1,000/mo)—no major job loss, but significant improvements in food security and wellbeing vox.com.

“Universal basic income as a policy response to current challenges” (Brookings, 2019)
Offers a nuanced stance, identifying UBI’s challenges (cost, efficiency) and defending its case amid automaton and safety net reforms unc.edu+11brookings.edu+11journals.sagepub.com+11journals.sagepub.com+7knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu+7reddit.com+7.

“The Architecture of a Basic Income” (UChicago Law Review) — A practical roadmap for implementing UBI at scale—brief pilots from Finland, Kenya, US cities, policy design insights lawreview.uchicago.edupoliticusreview.org+1businessinsider.com+1.

“Critical Theory and Universal Basic Income” (Neal Harris, 2023) — Argues UBI could address poverty, food insecurity, gendered work burdens, domestic violence, and mental healthjournals.sagepub.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1ubiadvocates.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.

Books

Utopia for Realists: The Case for a Universal Basic Income, Open Borders, and a 15‑Hour Workweek — Rutger Bregman (2016) — A passionate manifesto linking UBI with freedom to envision a better society; cites examples like Canada’s Mincome wired.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1politicusreview.org+11en.wikipedia.org+11journals.sagepub.com+11

The War on Normal People: The Truth About America’s Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future — Andrew Yang (2018) — A forward-looking case tying UBI to automation, economic disruption, and social dignity en.wikipedia.org+1ubiadvocates.org+1.

Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work — Nick Srnicek & Alex Williams (2015) — Argues for UBI as part of transitioning to a post-work, post-capitalist society and reducing workweek lengths en.wikipedia.org.

The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class — Guy Standing (2011) — Examines the emergence of the “precariat” and advocates UBI to stabilize insecure labor markets en.wikipedia.org+1reddit.com+1.

Give People Money: How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake the World — Annie Lowrey (2020) — A journalist’s exploration of UBI’s transformative potential, including real-world pilot examples ubiadvocates.orgtheguardian.com.

The Case for Universal Basic Income — Philippe Van Parijs & Yannick Vanderborght (2017)
A scholarly deep dive into the philosophical and economic case for UBI, addressing practical funding and labor market concerns ubiadvocates.org+1reddit.com+1.

Basic Income: A Guide for the Open‑Minded — Guy Standing (2023) — Written for general readership—offers historical context, economic rationale, and welfare comparisons en.wikipedia.org+15reddit.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15.

The Basic Income Debate: A Citizen’s Guide — Edited by Karl Widerquist & Michael Lewis (2017) — A balanced collection of essays presenting both pros and cons of UBI policyen.wikipedia.org+15reddit.com+15journals.sagepub.com+15.

The Universal Basic Income: A Primer — James Stodder (2022) — A concise academic primer detailing UBI’s implications for the economy, work, and policy design reddit.com.

Summary

  • Real-world evidence from pilots in North America, Europe, and Africa supports UBI's positive effects on security, health, and autonomy.

  • Big-picture proposals examine UBI’s role in addressing automation, climate change, rising inequality, and the global jobs paradigm.

  • Scholarly texts offer both normative and practical frameworks, exploring UBI’s feasibility, morality, and political sustainability.