The onset of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic led to increased discussions about Universal Basic Income (UBI). This paper presents three studies (UK and US samples) investigating whether public support for UBI increased and why. Studies 1 and 2 showed significantly stronger support for UBI during the pandemic, primarily due to increased perceived importance of simplicity, efficiency, and stress reduction. Study 3 replicated these findings six months later, although with smaller effect sizes. The study highlights how changing socio-economic situations can alter policy preferences.

Daniel Nettle, Elliott Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Rebecca Saxe