Universal Credit to Basic Income: A Politically Feasible Transition?

Abstract

AbstractUniversal Credit, the UK working-age benefit, attempts to address issues of complexity, inflexibility, and work disincentivisation within the benefits system. However, the UK coalition government’s delayed rollout and emphasis on conditionality raise questions over its applicability to twenty-first century labour market problems. Instead, universal basic income tackles similar goals and arguably better addresses labour market changes. But is this transition politically feasible? Through interviews with policy actors from four UK political parties, arguments for and against the likelihood of this transition are presented by utilising theories of welfare state development.