Let’s begin with the basics, including clarifying the various terms used to refer to GLI.
What is a basic income? A basic income is a periodic, unconditional cash payment provided by government to individuals. It ensures recipients can meet their basic needs and live with dignity regardless of their work status. Different terms are used for similar policy proposals to emphasize different key characteristics of basic income: i) a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) creates an income floor, preventing people from falling into poverty. It is unconditional, and (like health care) universally available, but income tested and so delivered only to those who need it, regardless of their work status. ii) a Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI) GLI and BIG are essentially the same. Many Canadian advocates have adopted the use of GLI to emphasize the importance of the benefit’s sufficiency. It must be high enough not just to survive, but to live with dignity. The sufficiency requirement is also part of all detailed definitions of BIG, but not highlighted. This document uses the phrase livable BIG throughout to keep sufficiency to the fore. iii) a Universal Basic Income (UBI) In terms of its definition, a UBI is an unconditional payment made to all adults, rich or poor, and is not clawed back. It contrasts directly with income tested models. In Canada, however, UBI has come to be used often to refer to any kind of basic income program. This leads to confusion exploited by opponents to attack BIG’s affordability.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).