Universal Basic Income as a prerequisite for work, not a reward, resonates profoundly. By securing basic needs, we enable individuals to contribute meaningfully. The idea that income fuels work, not the other way around, challenges conventional wisdom and ignites a more thoughtful discourse on UBI.

I call this the Toothpaste Argument for UBI, inspired by Gotz Werner and a story from him about why buying toothpaste enables the production of more of it.

The Toothpaste Argument for Universal Basic Income

The following argument is based on the words of the late Götz Werner, who was a long-time supporter of the concept of unconditional basic income in Germany, who gained a unique understanding of UBI a...