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Examining the ethical underpinnings of universal basic income as a public health policy: prophylaxis, social engineering and ‘good’ lives

Authors :
Johnson, Matthew Thomas
Johnson, Elliott Aidan
Source :
Journal of Medical Ethics
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
BMJ, 2021.

Abstract

At a time of COVID-19 pandemic, universal basic income (UBI) has been presented as a potential public health ‘upstream intervention’. Research indicates a possible impact on health by reducing poverty, fostering health-promoting behaviour and ameliorating biopsychosocial pathways to health. This novel case for UBI as a public health measure is starting to receive attention from a range of political positions and organisations. However, discussion of the ethical underpinnings of UBI as a public health policy is sparse. This is depriving policymakers of clear perspectives about the reasons for, restrictions to and potential for the policy’s design and implementation. In this article, we note prospective pathways to impact on health in order to assess fit with Rawlsian, capabilities and perfectionist approaches to public health policy. We suggest that Raz’ pluralist perfectionist approach may fit most comfortably with the prospective pathways to impact, which has implications for allocation of resources.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14734257 and 03066800
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Medical Ethics
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....2ed96297d129a2dcdc076d6b608df4f3
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106477