Nothing undermines life more than insecurity
but for too many, the last few decades have become ever more insecure.
Work is less certain and more stressful,
especially for those on average incomes and lower —
and we have a tax and benefits system that is complex and sometimes punitive.
We could do something completely different,
like give a basic monthly payment to every single citizen.
This is called a Basic Income.
It's a centuries-old idea favoured by philosophers,
social reformers, civic leaders and across the political spectrum.
And it could help us meet our needs today.
Basic Income would provide a platform to smooth the life transitions
millions of us will face in coming years,
including changes that may come from technology.
It's the best insurance policy there is.
It would be a solid foundation to enable people to structure their lives
in a way that unleashes their talent.
Whether we want to earn or learn, care or set up a business,
Basic Income could offer us greater security
and a better, more creative life.
Some people say Basic Income will make people lazy.
We don't accept the premise that people are naturally lazy
but, anyway, Basic Income is a system that incentivises work.
It gets rid of effective tax rates of 70% or more for the bottom half of earners.
Some say it's unaffordable.
Experts show it could be funded without massively increasing the size of the state.
In the RSA's model, an additional 1% of GDP would be needed.
Not insignificant, but no more than the cost of recent changes to taxes and benefits.
And these changes would support everyone,
not just the big corporations and the privileged few,
who have tended to gain from recent big moves in the tax system.
The Basic Income movement is expanding globally.
Pilots are planned in the Netherlands, Finland and Canada.
We believe it is time for more trials —
in a UK city, in the US and many other places across the globe, too.
Basic Income could be a means of rethinking what matters to us all —
a platform to help us strengthen relationships to one another,
improve our working lives
and support an even better, more creative society.