What If Corbyn Introduced Universal Basic Income? A Debate

A new U.K. report has brought the growing international debate over the concept of a universal basic income to Britain. Two Bloomberg Opinion columnists — Leonid Bershidsky and Ferdinando Giugliano — debate whether that’s a good thing.

Leonid Bershidsky: In a report commissioned by U.K. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, London academic Professor Guy Standing proposes a universal basic income trial in the U.K. I think that’s a great idea. The world needs a well-designed UBI trial: There aren’t all that many big ideas around with such powerful appeal as this one, and it’s clear from the Standing proposal that he understands how it should be tested.