Abstract
Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a periodic cash payment to all residents in a jurisdiction, without obligation. Universalism and unconditionality distinguish UBI from other redistributive policies that require means testing and certain behaviors to gain and maintain eligibility. Despite an increased interest in UBI, it is poorly understood how these two critical features – universalism and unconditionality – influence public attitudes toward UBI. This paper explores results of the eighth round of the European Social Survey and finds that people who support unconditionality are more likely to support UBI, as expected. But support for UBI is also significantly associated with a desire to help the poor rather than provide universal cash transfers to all individuals.
Appendix: Summary Statistics
| Variable | n | Mean | SD | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attitudes toward redistribution | 44,387 | 0.731 | 0.444 | 0 | 1 |
| Attitudes toward UBI | 40,592 | 0.542 | 0.498 | 0 | 1 |
| Preference for universalism | 41,825 | 2.616 | 0.819 | 1 | 4 |
| Preference for unconditionality | |||||
| Unemployed, less pay | 10,712 | 2.642 | 1.062 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, lower education | 10,668 | 2.616 | 1.090 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, unpaid work | 10,427 | 2.575 | 1.143 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, 50s, less pay | 10,256 | 2.719 | 1.062 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, 50s, less education | 10,198 | 2.632 | 1.089 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, 50s, unpaid work | 10,002 | 2.628 | 1.138 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, 20–25, less pay | 10,572 | 2.583 | 1.060 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, 20–25, less education | 10,509 | 2.581 | 1.079 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, 20–25, unpaid work | 10,304 | 2.524 | 1.134 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, with a child, less pay | 10,480 | 2.913 | 1.030 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, with a child, less education | 10,403 | 2.722 | 1.070 | 1 | 4 |
| Unemployed, with a child, unpaid work | 10,252 | 2.720 | 1.131 | 1 | 4 |
| Gender | 44,378 | 0.526 | 0.499 | 0 | 1 |
| Age group | 44,232 | 2.637 | 1.038 | 1 | 4 |
| Educational attainment | 44,170 | 2.862 | 0.884 | 1 | 4 |
| Household income | 36,445 | 5.189 | 2.734 | 1 | 10 |
| Subjective income security | 43,863 | 2.107 | 0.722 | 1 | 3 |
| Main activity | 44,387 | 1.710 | 0.818 | 1 | 3 |
| Union membership | 44,165 | 0.387 | 0.487 | 0 | 1 |
| Political ideology | 44,387 | 2.174 | 0.716 | 1 | 3 |
| Fairness in society | 43,591 | 3.607 | 0.952 | 1 | 5 |
| Political trust | 43,226 | 4.450 | 2.405 | 0 | 10 |
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