Skip to content
Politics & Current Affairs —

Chicago may become one of the first U.S. cities to implement a universal basic income program

A Chicago lawmaker says UBI is not only a way to ensure people still get paid as automation displaces their jobs, but that it’s also a safeguard against the inevitable sociopolitical strife that would follow.
Scott Santens via Flickr
Sign up for Big Think on Substack
The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.

Chicago may become one of the first U.S. cities to implement a universal basic income program (UBI).

The proposal, introduced by Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar, would create a small-scale UBI experiment that gives 1,000 families $500 per month with no strings attached, and would also change the Earned Income Tax Credit for participating families to give them monthly payments instead of a lump sum. At least several dozen lawmakers have endorsed the proposal so far.

My legislation calling for the creation of a Chicago #UniversalBasicIncome pilot has 36 co-sponsors! On to the Commitee on Workforce Development and Audit. Committee chair @40thWard is also a sponsor. More soon! #UBIpic.twitter.com/W7D5Hbx31E

— Ameya Pawar (@Ameya_Pawar_IL) June 27, 2018

Sign up for Big Think on Substack
The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.
Related
Up Next