From cash transfers to basic income: An unfolding Indian Agenda

Main author: Standing, Guy
Format: Journal Article           
Online access: Click here to view record


id eprints-19364
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
topic H Social Sciences (General)
HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
description This article provides a review of the arguments for and against cash transfers in India, taking care to distinguish between different types of cash transfer schemes, which include a universal unconditional basic income as well as conditional schemes. The article sets out some principles by which any social policy should be judged and goes on to discuss cash transfers alongside other instruments of social policy, namely the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). It then examines the principal hypotheses associated with the arguments for and against cash transfers as a social policy instrument, drawing upon international experience. The article concludes that a universal unconditional basic income would have important advantages over alternative schemes, but cautions against undue haste in rolling out cash transfers to ensure a smooth transition.
format Journal Article
author Standing, Guy
author_facet Standing, Guy
authorStr Standing, Guy
author_letter Standing, Guy
title From cash transfers to basic income: An unfolding Indian Agenda
publisher Indian Society of Labour Economics
publishDate 2014
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/19364/