How a UBIG can advance gender justice and social cohesion

The document examines how a universal basic income guarantee (UBIG) can address structural gender inequalities and social instability in South Africa. It argues that by decoupling income from waged labour, a UBIG empowers women who are disproportionately affected by unemployment and unpaid care work. The text cites international evidence to suggest that unconditional cash transfers reduce intimate partner violence, increase school attendance for girls, and lower crime rates. It emphasizes that universality is essential to avoid social stigma and ensure women's agency.

• Women in South Africa face significant structural economic disadvantages, including higher unemployment rates and a lower gender pay gap. In 2020, 40.6% of women-headed households lacked an employed member, compared to 22% of men-headed households, and women earn an average of 76% of what men earn.
• A UBIG can advance gender justice by providing women with financial independence and agency, which helps reduce their vulnerability to financial abuse and intimate partner violence (IPV). Evidence from Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries indicates that cash transfers can significantly reduce IPV and increase girls' school attendance.
• UBIGs can strengthen social cohesion by fostering solidarity, increasing trust in leadership, and reducing crime. A basic income pilot in Namibia resulted in a 42% decrease in overall crime rates, while studies in the Middle East and East Africa showed improved social inclusion.
• The benefits of gender justice and social cohesion depend on the universality of the grant. Eligibility criteria that exclude certain groups can create social stigma and undermine cohesion, while directing support to all adults—rather than just household heads—is critical for increasing women's agency.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (2022). How a UBIG can advance gender justice and social cohesion. https://www.iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IEJ-UBIG-5-fact-sheet-web.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. How a UBIG can advance gender justice and social cohesion. 2022. https://www.iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IEJ-UBIG-5-fact-sheet-web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=How a UBIG can advance gender justice and social cohesion |date=November 2022 |url=https://www.iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IEJ-UBIG-5-fact-sheet-web.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforeconomicjustice2022how, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{How a UBIG can advance gender justice and social cohesion}}, institution = {Institute for Economic Justice}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IEJ-UBIG-5-fact-sheet-web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }