Universal Basic Income: What It Is and Why It Stirs Up So Much Debate

Universal Basic Income: What It Is and Why It Stirs Up So Much Debate Andrew Yang and the UBI Movement Andrew Yang may not have won the presidency, but he helped drag UBI into the mainstream. His “Freedom Dividend” proposal—a $1,000 monthly check for every American adult—grabbed headlines in 2020. Since then, Yang has founded Humanity Forward and backed real-life UBI pilot programs in U.S. cities. He argues that UBI isn’t just an economic reform, but a moral one: a way to treat people like stakeholders in the economy rather than liabilities. His message resonates with those left out of the traditional labor market. Love him or not, Yang helped put UBI on the map.