Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
37th International Public Finance Conference / TR i, Antalya, Türkiye, 12 - 15 Ekim 2023, ss.239-245
Abstract Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a policy proposal that calls for regular payments to all members of society, at regular intervals, at a level sufficient for individuals to maintain a minimum level of living without any conditions. The proposal of an unconditional payment to each individual has sparked intense debates. Some authors have argued that UBI is the only solution to the unemployment problem that may arise from technological developments, mechanization, and artificial intelligence systems. Covid-19 pandemicinduced economic depression and uncertainty about the future compounded existing concerns about unemployment, leading to a thorough debate on the adequacy of existing social welfare programs. Some saw UBI as utopian, disconnected from reality, and an unfeasible fantasy. In this context, we conducted a survey in Türkiye involving 504 respondents to evaluate people's perspectives on Universal Basic Income (UBI) within the framework of their socio-demographic attributes, employing Pearson's test for bicausality and the chi-square test. The results derived from both tests reveal that, in Türkiye, women tend to hold a more favorable opinion about UBI in comparison to men. Additionally, the evaluations concur that UBI will be particularly favorable in terms of correcting income inequality and fostering economic growth.
Keywords: Universal basic income; fiscal policy; social welfare programs
JEL Codes: H53, E62