UQ's Centre for Policy Futures and School of Social Science, and QUT's School of Public Health & Social Work are pleased to welcome Visiting Academic, Matthew Johnson, Professor of Public Policy, Chair of the Common Sense Policy Group at Northumbria University. Matthew's talk will explore how a universal Basic Income (regular, unconditional payments to everyone) could reshape society. Drawing on insights from the book Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything, Matthew will outline three key pathways through which Basic Income improves lives. Using real‑world studies, including the Changing Cost of Living Study, the presentation will show how these effects compound to strengthen health, wellbeing, and social stability.
Abstract
Basic Income is a system of regular, secure, predictable payments to all individuals. Unlike most existing welfare systems, it is not ‘means-tested’ (dependent on low income), based on additional needs (such as those related to being disabled), or dependent on particular behaviour (such as being unemployed and looking for work). While there may be a small number of situations where payments could be withdrawn, for example due to serious criminal behaviour, for the overwhelming majority it would be unconditional and paid forever. In this talk, I set out the central thread of our book, Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything, which argues that Basic Income can transform society through three main pathways. First, by addressing poverty Basic Income increases people’s ability to satisfy their basic needs, for example helping them to afford better food and housing. Second, by reducing income inequality, it gives people the option to leave abusive, damaging environments, reducing stress and related conditions. Third, by providing a predictable and secure future, Basic Income increases people’s perception of their lifespan and makes it worthwhile for them to invest in healthy, pro-social behaviours. I work through a series of examples and key studies, including the Changing Cost of Living Study, to show how these pathways affect health and produce compounding benefits to society and to argue that Basic Income is the policy that changes everything.