A Study on Citizen Perception of the Basic Income Model in Samsun

Abstract

All social problems fall within the purview of social policy. Among these, poverty, income inequality, and unemployment remain the foundational concerns of the discipline. Global economic and political shifts, along with rapid technological advancements, have both intensified existing problems and generated new ones. Events such as global pandemics, regional conflicts, economic crises, and international sanctions continue to reshape the landscape of social risk. Simultaneously, emerging technologies—particularly automation and digitization—pose new challenges, such as job displacement and increased precarity. These evolving dynamics cast doubt on the capacity of existing social policy frameworks to respond effectively, prompting renewed inquiry into alternative models of social protection.

In recent years, the concept of basic income has gained prominence in global social policy discourse. With its core objectives aligning closely with the fundamental aims of social policy—namely poverty alleviation, equitable income distribution, and protection against technologically induced unemployment—basic income presents a holistic and transformative approach. Defined as a universal, unconditional, and individual cash transfer, the model seeks to guarantee a minimum level of economic security, thereby enabling individuals to maintain autonomy and dignity in their lives. Rooted in rights-based and citizen-oriented principles, basic income is conceived as a mechanism to ensure a life worthy of human dignity.

Although no country has yet implemented basic income at the national level, pilot programs and localized trials have been conducted in 192 settings across different regions of the world. The empirical evidence gathered from these initiatives suggests that basic income has the potential to address a broad range of social problems, extending beyond income poverty to include the mitigation of precarity and socio-economic insecurity. Compared to traditional social policy instruments, basic income offers a more comprehensive and preventive solution to the structural uncertainties of the contemporary labour market. By providing regular, predictable, and unconditional payments, it enables individuals—particularly in developing and underdeveloped contexts—to exercise greater control over their futures, increase their resilience to shocks, and pursue paths of self-determined well-being.

This study investigates the potential of the basic income model as an integrated tool of social policy. It adopts a mixed methodological approach, combining a theoretical review of the literature with empirical findings derived from in-depth, face-to-face interviews. The aim is to assess both the conceptual foundations and the practical viability of basic income through the lens of citizen perceptions. The study is organized into three sections: the first outlines the conceptual framework of basic income, including its core principles and objectives; the second provides comparative insights from global pilot programs; and the third presents field research findings on public attitudes toward the model.

Overall, the study concludes that increased public awareness and understanding of basic income correlates with higher levels of support for its implementation. The findings suggest that a nationally implemented basic income policy could eradicate absolute poverty, alleviate relative poverty, reduce precarity, and enhance individuals’ economic agency in the face of unforeseen events. As such, basic income emerges not merely as a welfare instrument, but as a foundational pillar for reimagining social protection in an era marked by volatility and transition.