As global wealth inequality deepens and automation threatens to usher in a new form of technology-driven unemployment, many nations, from the wealthy and industrialized to the still-developing, are providing a basic and unconditional financial floor for some of their citizens.
Although no country has fully implemented a nationwide Universal Basic Income (UBI) plan as of July 2025, some continue to experiment with pilot programs or targeted, UBI-like versions known as Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) to address either country-specific or universal issues.
These vary in monetary sums, recipients, and intended purposes, but could all lay the groundwork for more widespread adoption in the future, softening the novelty of basic income programs and providing clarity on the fiscal implications of such radical alternatives to traditional welfare models.
What Issues Could a Basic Income Solve?
According to experts who spoke with Newsweek, beyond alleviating poverty and providing economic stability to those currently underserved by their respective welfare systems, basic income programs would allow citizens to allot their time to other priorities beyond labor.
“The social safety net today is still not very safe,” Rob Hartley, a professor at the Columbia School of Social Work, told Newsweek. “An income guarantee could provide a real floor to help families get by.”
“The fundamental issue is ensuring everyone has secure access to enough money to live with dignity, without having to constantly demonstrate that they ‘deserve’ support,” said Canadian health economist and basic income scholar Evelyn Forget.
Juliana Bidadanure, the founder of Stanford University‘s Basic Income Lab, said that unconditional cash transfers would eliminate the costly and time-consuming process of means-testing welfare eligibility.
“That suppresses bureaucratically burdensome eligibility tests and protects individuals in poverty from being subject to the discretionary power of state agents,” Bidadanure said. “It implements a real right to live free from abject poverty, no questions asked, no paperwork filed.”
Which Countries Are Testing Basic Income Plans in 2025?
According to Stanford’s Basic Income Lab, dozens of UBI or GBI programs are currently being implemented across the globe. While primarily in the United States, cities in Africa, Asia, and Europe are trialing the option as a potential solution to gaps in social protection.
Basic Income for Farmers, South Korea
This new targeted initiative is directed at farmers and fishermen in 24 cities and counties of Gyeonggi Province. Applications can be submitted twice a year, and if successful, some recipients will receive 1.8 million won annually ($1,312), while others will receive 50,000 won monthly. The total number of recipients is estimated to be 210,000, according to the agribusiness data hub Tridge.
This follows several similar programs launched in Korea, such as the Seoul Stepping Stone Project, which ended earlier this year. Analysis of the second-year results conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government found that the initiative, which provided targeted support to families earning less than 85 percent of the median income, found that 8.6 percent of participating households surpassed this threshold, with 31 percent seeing an increase in earned income.
Basic Income Pilot for Care Leavers, Wales, United Kingdom
The Welsh government is conducting a three-year trial that provides a basic income for young people who have spent time in the foster care system. Participants receive £1,600 ($2,166) before tax monthly for up to two years following their 18th birthday. The pilot began in July 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in November 2026. As of April, over 600 people had taken part in the pilot.
According to mid-trial findings from the study published by the government earlier this year, the guaranteed income allowed participants to lead more balanced personal lives and pursue educational opportunities, with many reporting improved mental health. However, some professionals consulted as part of the analysis expressed concern that 18 was too young to receive such a generous basic income, and that this could deter them from pursuing employment.
Cash Transfers for Women, India
Several initiatives providing unconditional cash transfers to women are ongoing across India, allowing them to cover basic costs and pursue financial independence. States like Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand have implemented such programs, with payments in the largest programs ranging from 1,000 rupees to 2,500, or between roughly $12 and $30.
In March, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the local government approved a 2,500-rupee monthly allowance for eligible women, according to an article in The Indian Express.
A study by the Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation found that these can reduce women’s unpaid workloads, contribute to food security and household well-being, while “enhancing women’s empowerment.” The report concluded that these had “strengthened the case for the provision of Universal Basic Income” in India.
The Future of Universal Basic Income
While similar studies are ongoing globally, numerous barriers exist to their adoption and successful implementation.
Evelyn Forget questioned whether the results of such regional studies could be scaled up to predict national-level outcomes.
“I have my doubts, frankly, that the statistical robustness exists,” she told Newsweek, adding that the results of these often generate “stories” and “narratives” rather than actionable data. However, she said that many programs are scalable, and shed light on what other welfare systems would need to be in place alongside a basic income.
Those opposed to universal cash transfers often argue that significant public spending and tax increases would be required to fund these programs, while also pointing to potential inflationary effects that could reduce the “real” value of the received payments. This is in addition to the stigma associated with a government providing its citizens unconditional “freebies.”
Despite their projected or proven benefits, fiscal and political concerns may continue to slow or even prevent the widespread adoption of UBI and GBI programs in the near future.
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