There are many, many reasons that people believe a universal basic income is a policy that needs to be looked at. However, one that doesn’t really get a look in very often is the psychological benefit of such an idea. Olivia Barrow writes about why this is so key.

In a society built upon scarcity we are used to wanting the next product because it is only a limited edition. However, when that thing that is scarce is your job, your housing or your healthcare it then becomes hugely detrimental to your mental health. Barrow shows that your cognitive capacity or bandwidth tax can only real deal with a certain level of stresses. This scarcity that people are experiencing in jobs or housing fundamentally effects how they think about the world.

The pressure that we experience due to this way of living limits the brains ability to cope with the demands that are put on it day to day. This has detrimental effects to the individual in terms of their mental health but also produces members of society who are constantly on the edge. Which collectively produces a more unstable society.

This psychological impact of scarcity is what Barrow believes is one of the strongest arguments for the adoption of a universal basic income. In a society so rich in economic terms such as the US their citizens should not be suffering such psychological damage as they are.

For more information, see the following sources:

Olivia Barrow, “The Psychological Argument for a Universal Basic Income”, April 7th , 2016