June 5, 2023 /Finance/ — There is a universal basic income (UBI) trial being conducted in the UK. The trial is being led by the Welsh Government and is being funded by the UK government. The trial began in September 2021 and will run for three years.
The trial started in September 2021, and it is scheduled to run for three years. The trial is being conducted in two parts:
- Part 1: A pilot scheme that is testing the feasibility of a UBI scheme. The pilot scheme is being conducted in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and it is involving 500 people.
- Part 2: A full-scale trial that is testing the impact of a UBI scheme. The full-scale trial is being conducted in Ceredigion, and it is involving 2,000 people.
The first part of the trial is being conducted with 200 care leavers aged 18-24. These young people will receive £1,600 per month for two years, with no conditions attached. The second part of the trial is being conducted with 500 people aged 18-65 who are unemployed or on low incomes. These people will also receive £1,600 per month for two years, with no conditions attached.
The Welsh Government is conducting the UBI trial in order to assess the impact of a UBI on a number of factors, including:
- Employment: The Welsh Government wants to see if a UBI will encourage people to work more or less.
- Health: The Welsh Government wants to see if a UBI will improve people’s health and well-being.
- Financial security: The Welsh Government wants to see if a UBI will help people to achieve financial security.
- Mental health: The Welsh Government wants to see if a UBI will improve people’s mental health.
The results of the UBI trial are not yet available, but the Welsh Government is expected to publish a report on the trial in 2024.
Here are some of the arguments in favor of a UBI:
- It would reduce poverty: A UBI would provide a guaranteed income for everyone, which would help to reduce poverty.
- It would boost the economy: A UBI would give people more money to spend, which would boost the economy.
- It would improve health and well-being: A UBI would give people more freedom to choose how they spend their time, which could improve their health and well-being.
Here are some of the arguments against a UBI:
- It would be too expensive: A UBI would be a significant financial burden on the government.
- It would discourage people from working: A UBI could discourage people from working, as they would not need to work in order to make a living.
- It would create a dependency culture: A UBI could create a culture of dependency, where people become reliant on the government for their income.
It is important to note that there is no consensus on the potential impact of UBI. The results of the Welsh Government’s trials will provide valuable insights into the potential benefits and drawbacks of UBI.
A small-scale Universal Basic Income (UBI) trial is due to start in England in September 2023. The trial will be run by the think tank Autonomy and will involve 30 people in two locations: East Finchley in north London and central Jarrow in north-east England. Each participant will receive £1,600 per month for two years, with no strings attached.
The aim of the trial is to assess the impact of UBI on a number of factors, including employment, health, well-being and poverty. The results of the trial will be published in 2025.
The trial has been welcomed by some UBI supporters, who argue that it is a chance to test the potential of UBI to improve people’s lives. However, it has also been criticized by some who argue that it is too small-scale to be meaningful and that the results will be difficult to interpret.
The trial is part of a growing interest in UBI around the world. In recent years, there have been a number of UBI trials conducted in other countries, including Finland, Canada and Kenya. The results of these trials have been mixed, but they have all provided valuable insights into the potential benefits and drawbacks of UBI.
It is too early to say whether UBI will be adopted in England or other countries in the future. However, the trial in England is a significant step forward in the debate about UBI and could help to shape the future of social security policy.