Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything

by Matthew Johnson, Kate Pickett, Daniel Nettle, Howard Reed, Elliott Johnson

Overview

Basic income can no longer be dismissed as a utopian idea — it’s being tested worldwide. But can it truly transform economies and societies?

This book dives into real-world examples, revealing how basic income reshapes lives. It explores the ripple effects of financial security—better health, stronger communities, more education, meaningful work, and engaged citizenship. By breaking the cycle of poverty, basic income unlocks access to essentials like food and housing, empowers people, and fuels long-term thinking and entrepreneurship

Tying together theory with groundbreaking evidence from real-world trials, this book shows why basic income isn’t just possible—it’s the vital solution to our age of crisis, paving the way for a fairer society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447374008
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	05/27/2025
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	148
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Elliott Johnson is Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow in Public Policy at Northumbria University. His research currently focuses on basic income, in particular, understanding its health impact, economic feasibility, public acceptability and the development of narratives capable of persuading opponents.

Matthew Johnson is Chair of the Common Sense Policy Group and Professor of Public Policy at Northumbria University. His work focuses on the relationship between financial insecurity, health, public opinion and means of persuading people to vote in their own interests.

Daniel Nettle is Professor of Community Wellbeing at Northumbria Universityand a researcher in the Evolution and Social Cognition team at Institut Jean Nicod. His work focuses on the relationship between poverty, inequality and behaviour and in developing public policy to improve outcomes.

Kate E. Pickett is Professor of Epidemiology at the University of York and co-author with Richard Wilkinson of The Spirit Level and Inner Level. She is co-founder of the Equality Trust and has pioneered understanding of the impacts of poverty and inequality as social determinants of health.

Howard Reed is Senior Research Fellow in Public Policy at Northumbria Universityand Director of Landman Economics. He is former Chief Economist at IPPR and a leading international expert in economic microsimulation. He leads the Common Sense Policy Group’s costing, affordability and tax-benefit analysis.

Ian Robson is Assistant Professor in Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing at Northumbria University. He is a methodological innovator who enables new knowledge and practice change in the fields of collaborative enquiry, social design, and inclusion of marginalised groups.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Why basic income?

2. Securing the basics: reducing poverty

3. Freedom from stress

4. Changing behaviour and strengthening communities

5. Care across generations

6. A collective return on investment

7. If you like basic income, you're in the majority

Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

Basic income is an ethical imperative, a matter of common justice, freedom and basic security. In our age of uncertainty, it is the only policy that could give credence to so-called ‘securonomics’. This book shows it is also a matter of mental and physical health.” Guy Standing, author of Basic Income: And How We Can Make It Happen

"This accessible and clearly written book brings an original public health lens to the case for a basic income." Baroness Ruth Lister of Burtersett

“This book is a real achievement: using astute modeling and pathbreaking arguments around health and economy, the authors make the clearest case yet for a basic income. If you are a sceptic or an advocate, you need to read this.” Will Stronge, The Autonomy Institute

"This is a wise little book on the prospects of basic income in the UK. It shows that we would be much better off introducing a robust income floor now than picking up the pieces once people are already hurt and ill from the consequences of income poverty. It frames basic income as a public health measure and shows how it can help us build healthier communities." Juliana Bidadanure, New York UniversitySchool of Law

“Just as it was once thought impossible that we would pay unemployment benefit to those without work, so too many cannot imagine the implementation of basic income. You don’t need to be in that group: read this book!” Danny Dorling, University of Oxford

“Universal Basic Income: A common sense policy and a common sense exploration of how transformational it would be for society." Dave Beck, University of Salford

From the Publisher