UBI is not a new idea having been floated by various economists and politicians across the world for decades. But it has gained real momentum in recent years with small scale schemes being introduced in developing nations Kenya, Uganda, and India.
In the developed world a number of countries have also considered experimenting with the idea. Trials are being
considered in Scotland, by councils in Fife and Glasgow to potentially be rolled out soon. Currently the Canadian province of Ontario
is pushing ahead with trials to begin later this year.
Last year Switzerland held a national referendum on the issue of a Universal Basic Income but the proposal — which would’ve nearly doubled welfare spending and wasn’t backed by the government — was rejected by 75 per cent of the vote.
However a similar proposal will be rolled out in the Netherlands as the country trials a number of different versions of the scheme with a range of restrictions and sanctions in cities including Utrecht, Tilburg, Nijmegen, Wageningen and Groningen. The idea has also taken root in Italy.
Australia has not been immune to the UBI bug and the idea was explored in depth by Don Arthur in a
research paper published last November by the Australian government’s Parliamentary Library.
