Book Launch: New Common Sense Policy Group book outlines why Basic Income can be the solution to poverty and inequality
The Common Sense Policy Group at Northumbria University are launching their new book, Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything, on Monday 12th May at 17:30-18:30 in City Campus East CCE1-003.
The book outlines the case for the introduction of a Basic Income, drawing on the latest research, analysis and insights from real-world trials on the policy which involves a regular cash payment from government to all citizens, regardless of circumstances.
The group, featuring Northumbria researchers as well as academics from other universities, policymakers, third sector leaders, community representatives, and people with lived experience, is chaired by Professor Matthew Johnson from the University’s Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing.
Members are actively involved in a number of high-profile pilot proposals and research projects across the United Kingdom, gathering the latest evidence on the use of Basic Income as a transformative welfare policy.
The book, published by Bristol University Press, is informed by this ongoing research and explores the ripple effects of financial security – better health, stronger communities, more education, meaningful work, and engaged citizenship. The authors argue that by breaking the cycle of poverty, a Basic Income can unlock guaranteed access to essentials like food and housing, while empowering people, and fuelling long-term thinking and entrepreneurship.
Professor Johnson said: “This book shows why Basic Income is the most obvious solution to our age of crisis. It is the foundation for a functioning society in which workers have the financial security to thrive and take good risks. The point of the Basic Income is not to replace a dynamic economy or paid work, but to place a sound floor under everyone’s feet to give people a level of security and freedom that benefits all areas of life.”
Professor Kate Pickett from the University of York, Epidemiology Lead for the Common Sense Policy Group, said: “Poverty and inequality are a blight on our contemporary society, causing us untold damage and threatening our future prosperity and wellbeing. Our book isn't just another catalogue of these woes - it doesn't help to simply keep on describing the problems. Instead, we show that Basic Income is a simple and feasible solution to this fundamental crisis, a practical and much better alternative to endlessly putting sticking plasters on our broken Britain.”
The new book follows the publication of Act Now: A vision for a better future and a new social contract in 2024, a book which was written as a blueprint for policy reform in Britain by the Common Sense Policy Group and released before last year’s General Election.
Dr Elliott Johnson, Vice Chancellor’s Fellow in Public Policy at Northumbria and Impact Lead for the Common Sense Policy Group, said: “Reducing conditionality and ensuring people have enough money for the basics improves health and removes perverse disincentives from engaging in work as well as physical and social activity. The recent study of Basic Income in a comparable country like Germany demonstrates why. Welfare is upstream of health and governments would be well-advised to see it as an investment in long-term population health and the public purse.”
The launch on May 12th at Northumbria will feature:
Louise Bracken PVC Research & Knowledge Exchange, Northumbria University
Joanne Atkinson, Head of Department, Northumbria University
Matthew Johnson, Professor of Public Policy & Chair of the Common Sense Policy Group, Northumbria University
Daniel Nettle, Behavioural Science Lead, Common Sense Policy Group, Professor of Community Wellbeing, Northumbria University and Directeur de reserche, Institut Jean Nicod, CNRS, Paris
Kate Pickett, Epidemiology Lead, Common Sense Policy Group, and Professor of Epidemiology, University of York
Howard Reed, Economics Lead, Common Sense Policy Group, Senior Research Fellow in Public Policy, Northumbria University
Chaired by Elliott Johnson, Impact Lead, Common Sense Policy Group, Vice Chancellor's Fellow in Public Policy, Northumbria University
Feedback on the book
“Just as it was once thought impossible that we would pay unemployment benefit to those without work, so too many cannot imagine the implementation of basic income. You don’t need to be in that group: read this book!” Danny Dorling, University of Oxford
“Basic income is an ethical imperative, a matter of common justice, freedom and basic security. In our age of uncertainty, it is the only policy that could give credence to so-called ‘securonomics’. This book shows it is also a matter of mental and physical health.” Guy Standing, author of Basic Income: And How We Can Make It Happen
“This accessible and clearly written book brings an original public health lens to the case for a basic income.” Baroness Ruth Lister of Burtersett
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