Smith-Carrier busts myths on implementing basic income

Momentum for basic income is growing in Canada. Yet some remain skeptical about the proposed government top-ups designed to lift lower-income Canadians out of poverty. Reservations about basic income often come down to ideas about who truly deserves assistance, writes Assoc. Prof. Tracy Smith-Carrier in the Conversation.

Smith-Carrier, who is the Canada Research Chair in Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, studies the root causes of poverty. Her article debunks seven myths around the reasons why people become and remain poor, including laziness, lack of resilience and the unaffordability of ending poverty.

“These myths are incredibly damaging and hinder us from advancing policy solutions proven to work. Cash-transfer programs, like basic income, have a solid evidence base, showing they’re effective.

“People don’t suddenly drop out of the workforce when they receive a basic income, nor are such programs too expensive to implement. We should be taxing super-rich corporations and individuals more to curb income inequality, known to be deadly for society.”

Read the full article in The Conversation.