Prisons are very expensive. Each prisoner costs far more than a basic income for a free man would. Additionally, prisoners get very little money, and very litt

Prisons are very expensive. Each prisoner costs far more than a basic income for a free man would. Additionally, prisoners get very little money, and very little freedom to choose how to spend it. Their accommodations, utilities, food, clothing, etc, are provided by the state directly. Conversely, a basic income doesn't involve the cost of incarcerating, monitoring, and controlling its recipients. Recipients receive enough income to buy the essentials themselves, with free choice from the vendors in an open market. So, no, I'd say the economics of prisons aren't very much like basic income programs.