Why is basic income being debated?

Ireland has a new permanent government scheme providing regular cash transfers to 2,000 artists. The people who can access it range from circus performers to opera singers.

It follows a pilot of more than three years, which is believed to have brought a return on investment to the economy.

Big tech backs basic income schemes like this to offset the consequences AI is having on the workforce. Leading economists believe it could create a dystopian world. Nevertheless, more governments are piloting or planning to introduce schemes like this.

Contributors: Dr Jenny Dagg, assistant lecturer, Maynooth University, Ireland Dr Catarina Neves, postdoctoral fellow, Utrecht University, The Netherlands Daron Acemoglu, 2024 Nobel Prize winner in economics, institute professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US Dr Jurgen De Wispelaere, acting chair of the Basic Income Earth Network.

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Daniel Rosney Sound engineer: Craig Boardman Researcher: Evie Yabsley Production Co-ordiantor: Phoebe Lomas Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood

(Photo: A customer withdraws euro bills from an ATM in Sofia. Credit: Bloomberg/Getty Images)