The pilot programme in Canada had a number of beneficial side effects that were not predicted. One of them was a noticable decrease in...traffic accidents.

Traffic accidents.

You can immediately see why UBI might reduce alcohol and drug abuse (it did), domestic violence (yup) and the number of people seeing a therapist, but I don't think anyone predicted that it would result in safer driving.

My theory is that people just plain drive better when less stressed.

All of these save society money. For example, if you put together the reduction in alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, mental health crises and traffic accidents, you can immediately see how that cuts down ER crowding and allows healthcare funds to be directed elsewhere.

Another thing from that particular pilot: Only two groups of people showed lower employment.

The first group was pregnant people and new parents. I.e., it was basically funding maternity leave. For everyone.

The second group was high school students, who dropped their part time jobs so they could focus on their studies.

Which created another beneficial side effect:

Increased high school graduation rates.

When we say can we afford UBI, I'd argue that as technology changes and society adjusts, we will get to a point where we can't afford NOT to do it.

Combined with universal healthcare and a system that allows doctors to prescribe, with funding, things other than medicine for disabled people, it would solve so many problems. (I think I need to write a full article now, ack, rather than loading up your comments).