- 🚨New publication @ Journal of European Social Policy Despite its popularity, the political will to advance Universal Basic Income is limited. Together with @hannaschwander.bsky.social, we argue that attitude polarization severely constrains the political viability of UBI.
- 📣Thrilled to share our new article with @beckerbastian.bsky.social in JESP on attitude polarization around UBI. We show that despite high aggregate support for UBI, attitude polarization over policy design strongly shapes its political feasibility. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
- 📧 Ahead of a basic income campaign in a German city, we survey residents about their attitudes towards UBI. To identify polarization we distinguish proponents and opponents of the policy and analyze where and why their attitudes diverge.
- 📊 A conjoint analysis shows that proponents and opponents disagree strongly about key features of UBI – its generosity, unconditionality, and financing. Common ground only exists for limited basic income scheme that deviate little from existing welfare institutions.
- ☝️Asked about their reasoning, respondents strongly draw on social justice arguments. While opponents fear repercussions for labor markets and fiscal policy, proponents are hopeful about welfare state modernization and liberty promotion.
- ➡️ In sum, our study suggests that attitude polarization constitutes a central barrier to the political viability of UBI. However, progress might be achieved by addressing key concerns of opponents or pursuing more limited basic income schemes that nevertheless exceed current welfare arrangements.Jan 8, 2026 09:05
- Read the article in full here #openaccess doi.org/10.1177/0958...
