Towards an ecological basic income

: Examining unconditional basic income’s potential role in a degrowth transition

Abstract

This thesis critically examines unconditional basic income (UBI) as an eco-social policy, and its potential role in a degrowth transition towards more sustainable and just societies. Using a critical realist philosophical framework the thesis addresses four specific research questions: 1) What constitutes more sustainable and just alternatives to capitalist societies in the post-growth literature? 2) What research gaps exist regarding UBI's socio-ecological credentials and post-growth alignment? 3) How could a post-growth compatible UBI be financed? And 4) What future research is needed to understand UBI's potential role in a degrowth transition?

The thesis addresses these questions across eight chapters, which include four mixed-method research articles. The theoretical foundations of the thesis are developed over two initial chapters which contrast nine key features of extant capitalist societies (accumulation, consumerism, mechanistic nature, private property, labour-power, technology and alienation) with the features of a normative vision of more sustainable and just societies towards which a post-growth UBI would contribute (sufficiency, decommodification, organic nature, collectivism, meaningful work, appropriate technology and reconnection).

The first research article then demonstrates that despite featuring prominently in the post-growth literature there is a significant theory/practice gap between radical visions of UBI discussed in the post-growth literature and the focus of contemporary empirical UBI research. The article develops an alternative research agenda to address the gap, comprised of different questions and the use of more pluralistic research methods.

The remaining three articles begin to put the research agenda into practice: The second article analyses data from the HudsonUP pilot experiment using a human needs framework. It demonstrates that while some improvement in needs satisfaction occurred under UBI conditions, the provision of cash alone is not enough. The third article critically assesses the financing options for UBI proposed in the post-growth literature, concluding that post-growth compatible finance requires more fundamental economic and social reorganisation. The final research article develops hypotheses and guidelines for a laboratory experiment to examine changes to consumption behaviour under UBI conditions.

The thesis concludes that UBI has strong potential as a tool for a degrowth transition, but only when implemented within broader packages of eco-social policies and supply-side reforms that reallocate resources from harmful economic sectors to sustainable welfare provision. However, a full understanding of UBI’s role in a degrowth transition requires implementing the alternative research agenda, integrating post-growth theory and methodological plurality into empirical UBI research. Overall, the thesis contributes to identifying and beginning to bridge the theory/practice gap regarding a post-growth UBI research.

Date of Award	20 May 2026
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Neil Howard (Supervisor), James Copestake (Supervisor) & Milena Buchs (Supervisor)