Agree or disagree: The government should provide a basic income to all citizens.

Depending on historical background and other circumstances of the countries, the answers may well vary, and they all make sense, but in my view, basic income has its pros and cons. Now let me explain the details.     

One advantage of basic income is that it alleviates social inéquity. In such cases, it can eliminate extreme poverty, prevent illness and homelessness, and reduce welfare budgets in turn. Next, it helps job changes, because short-term unemployment does not affect people’s standard of living.     

On the other hand, basic income also has its disadvantages: first, it needs huge budget. Studies have shown that introducing a basic income system in Japan would need nearly 100 trillion yen. Next, some argue that a basic income weaken the working morale, while some studies oppose this.           

Therefore, I conclude that basic income can be a feasible option. But, what I have said has only outlined the issues: in fact, several other political and economic factors may have a complex impact. So, each country must carefully consider the situation to lay down the optimal policy. Thank you for your attention. [182 I]