Universal basic income has made giant strides from its origins as a utopian vision. While UBI has gained traction as an idea in recent years, its universal nature is still a difficult political sell. However, to test out the idea on a more limited basis, many cities and states have piloted guaranteed basic income programs, which offer recurring cash payments to all individuals in a population regardless of their socioeconomic status.
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Douglas MacKay, an associate professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told Business Insider that trying to control spending is “paternalistic” and fails to treat recipients with dignity — as adults and equals who are “fully capable of governing their own lives.”