While I can't speak for everyone, I expect most proponents of "Basic Income" as a new social structure are advocating for "Universal Basic Income". i.e., everyo

While I can't speak for everyone, I expect most proponents of "Basic Income" as a new social structure are advocating for "Universal Basic Income". i.e., everyone gets a check. In addition to, ideally, providing for a basic level of needs, a Universal Basic Income also enforces a certain equality of social status - there's no stigma to getting your UBI welfare check if your rich neighbor across the street is getting the same check. The most commonly proposed alternative to a truly Universal Basic Income is the Negative Income Tax. If implemented with a progressive tax system (like the U.S's current tax system), there's still no disincentive to work, as every marginal increase in earned income is associated with a marginal increase in real income (even as the negative income tax benefit drops off). Actually, for what it's worth, one of the strong arguments for switching to UBI is that our current system of welfare programs actually disincentives moving up in income! In current implemented welfare programs, there are several income-tested thresholds where support drops out entirely - meaning that a marginal increase in earned income can represent a decrease in real income.