Herke, Boglárka – Vicsek, Lilla (2022) The attitudes of young citizens in higher education towards universal basic income in the context of automation – A qualitative study.  International Journal of Social Welfare, 1– 13. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12533 (IF: 1.96, Q1)

Abstract:

"One of the primary reasons for introducing the discussion about universal basic income (UBI) into political debate was to understand whether UBI could serve a good response to the negative consequences of technology-driven job replacement. It is also a question whether citizens would accept UBI. Based on 30 interviews with Hungarian university students, we investigate the attitudes of young citizens to the introduction of UBI in a hypothetical scenario, situated in 2060, when technological unemployment is high. Interviewees expressed optimistic views about the future labour market and dismissed the scenario, preferring the option of job-creation. Students claimed that people would become useless members of society by not working, which argument echoes the Hungarian government's discourse about the need for work-based society. Students also stressed that work gives meaning to life. These narratives show a traditional understanding of work that might inhibit advocates from increasing social support for UBI."