Universal Basic Income and the Reshaping of Democracy: Towards a Citizens’ Stipend in a New Political Order (SpringerBriefs in Political Science)

How, where and when can a universal basic income be put into political practice? This book discusses these questions by analyzing the political logic of a basic income and its controversial political and scientific implications. The author studies the institutions, rules, and decision-making processes of conventional democracies to reveal an institutional framework in which a universal basic income for all citizens could eventually become politically viable. The work addresses a broad range of topics, such as nationwide experiments with a basic income, voters’ support for the idea, and the effects of a basic income on business cycles and demographic policies. As such, it will appeal to anyone interested in the preconditions and implications of introducing a universal basic income. Front Matter ....Pages i-vi Introduction (Burkhard Wehner)....Pages 1-1 Basic Income—A Project for Generations (Burkhard Wehner)....Pages 3-10 A Long-Term Vision (Burkhard Wehner)....Pages 11-18 Basic Income in Other Policy Areas (Burkhard Wehner)....Pages 19-23 Common Objections to Basic Income (Burkhard Wehner)....Pages 25-28 The Role of Pilot Studies (Burkhard Wehner)....Pages 29-42 Basic Income, Demographic Structure and the Size of the State (Burkhard Wehner)....Pages 43-46 Basic Income and the Reshaping of Democracy (Burkhard Wehner)....Pages 47-55 A Project for the 22nd Century? (Burkhard Wehner)....Pages 57-61