How a UBIG can support healthier kids, happier adults, & lifelong learning

The factsheet outlines how a universal basic income guarantee (UBIG) serves as an investment in human capital by improving child health, mental health, and educational attainment. It cites evidence from South Africa and other low- and middle-income countries to show that cash transfers reduce malnutrition, increase school enrolment, and improve life satisfaction, which in turn enhances labour market productivity and long-term economic security.

• Cash transfers positively impact child health and nutrition, which helps break the cycle of structural poverty. In Namibia, households receiving a basic income grant saw child malnutrition levels decrease by 32 percentage points after one year. International evidence also indicates increased birth weight and a decreased likelihood of child obesity.
• A UBIG can improve mental health and psychological wellbeing by reducing the stress and anxiety associated with economic insecurity. Evidence from Kenya showed increases in happiness and life satisfaction, while research in South Africa suggests these grants can improve labour market outcomes and mitigate the intergenerational transmission of depression.
• Cash transfers increase educational attainment and school participation. In eight Sub-Saharan African countries, secondary school enrolment increased by 5 to 15 percentage points. In South Africa, the Child Support Grant (CSG) led to higher test scores in reading and arithmetic, more children completing higher grades, and a reduction in the educational gap between children of mothers with different education levels.
• UBIG supports adult education and re-skilling, which is identified as particularly important for providing the skilled workers needed for a green economy in the face of climate change.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (2022). How a UBIG can support healthier kids, happier adults, & lifelong learning. https://www.iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IEJ-UBIG-4-fact-sheet-web.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. How a UBIG can support healthier kids, happier adults, & lifelong learning. 2022. https://www.iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IEJ-UBIG-4-fact-sheet-web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=How a UBIG can support healthier kids, happier adults, & lifelong learning |date=November 2022 |url=https://www.iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IEJ-UBIG-4-fact-sheet-web.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforeconomicjustice2022how, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{How a UBIG can support healthier kids, happier adults, \& lifelong learning}}, institution = {Institute for Economic Justice}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IEJ-UBIG-4-fact-sheet-web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }