The pathway to a fairer, more equitable society
As a key recommendation in my Future Generations Report 2020, I see a basic income as a pathway to a fairer, more equitable society free from the shackles of discrimination and means testing. Freedom of choice and security of income are basic rights in modern society and a basic income would provide so many individuals and households with the means not only to survive, but to flourish and grow.
The importance of creating the Wales we want is unparalleled as we build back from a time of collective hardship, stress and sacrifice. The pandemic has shown our resilience as a society, our ability to adapt when the going gets tough, and our courage to adopt forward-thinking in a time of crisis. I have been impressed with many of the ways in which public bodies in Wales have responded innovatively to the crisis to meet the needs of our most vulnerable. New ways of working must guide our recovery and basic income is a policy that should be top of the agenda. As we look not only to rebuild, but to develop and grow, we need to embrace this opportunity and embed long-term thinking into our decision-making.
Given the growth in political interest and a push from Members of the Senedd to support the debate around a basic income, my office is working closely with think tank Autonomy to model what a basic income could look like in Wales.
A comprehensive study is needed to fully understand the benefits and the drawbacks of what a basic income could do in the Wales-specific context and we want the results of this work to shape policy going forward.
The work will look at how a basic income may work given devolution, the upcoming Senedd elections and other Welsh-specific obstacles to implementation.
This work has the potential to make a significant change to a large proportion of us here in Wales. Basic income is not just a tool in a political popularity contest, it has real world implications and many previous studies have shown its potential benefits: improvements to mental well-being, more freedom of choice, improved educational attainment, reduced crime and addiction rates, and relieved pressure on public services such as healthcare.
In Wales, we have the Well-being of Future Generations Act, and we have a duty of care for those who will inherit our society. Basic income could be a policy that shows our dedication to this duty, but also our dedication to real people right now, as it is a way of providing for the many, the present and the future.
It is important to remember that a basic income would not just be about money; it is not solely a material aid to people who are most in need. Providing for those who need it most is of course a fundamental premise of basic income, and is one of the main reasons for its distribution, but the additional impact on so many others in society must be stressed.
We could see more people speaking Welsh and engaging in cultural activities within their communities, creating a Wales of Vibrant Culture and a Thriving Welsh Language. It could also mean that the current disparities experienced by those outside of full-time paid employment are balanced out as we place a higher value on unpaid, voluntary and care work. This value will help us in creating a Prosperous Wales where everyone is included in economic valuation. We have a unique opportunity to show the world how Globally Responsible Wales is by inspiring others to think progressively and creating a world we are proud to be a part of.
I am excited to see the progression of the debate around a basic income, both in Welsh politics and on the wider political landscape, and I hope that the work my office is doing will help to shape the debate and highlight the potential that basic income holds.
I’ve told public bodies to be bold in their next steps. Now is the time to try these ideas that may be seen as radical. An unprecedented crisis needs an unprecedented solution, and we need to see the ways a basic income can be relevant for Wales. Well-being should be at the heart of policy and social reform, and I see basic income as providing a path to a fairer, more prosperous and equitable Wales.
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Y llwybr i gymdeithas decach, mwy ecwitïol
Yn fy Adroddiad Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol, un o fy brif argymhellion oedd incwm sylfaenol gan fy mod yn ei weld fel un o lwybrau i gymdeithas decach a fwy llewyrchus yn rhydd oddi wrth anffafriaeth a phrofiadau modd. Mae rhyddid i ddewis a diogelwch incwm yn hawliau sylfaenol mewn cymdeithas fodern a buasai incwm sylfaenol yn sicrhau nid ond modd i fyw ond y siawns i dyfu.
Mae’r pwysigrwydd o greu Cymru yr ydym ni eisiau, heb ei ail, pan yr ydym yn adeiladu yn ôl o’r amser caled, llawn aberth hyn. Mae’r pandemig wedi dangos ein cydnerth fel cymdeithas, ein gallu i addasu pan mae pethau yn anodd, ac ein dewrder i ymdopi ffyrdd meddwl ymlaen mewn amser argyfwng. Rydwyf wedi edmygu gyda’r ffyrdd y mae cyrff cyhoeddus yng Nghymru wedi addasu i’r argyfwng i gwrdd ag anghenion pobl bregus. Mae ffyrdd newydd o weithio yn gorfod bod yn ganllaw i’n hadfer ni ac mae incwm sylfaenol yn bolisi a ddylai fod ar ben yr agenda. Fel yr ydym yn edrych, nid ond i ail-adeiladu ond hefyd i ddatblygu ac i dyfu, rydym yn angen gafael yn y cyfle hwn i ddatblygu ein ffordd o feddwl tymor hir a'i ymgorffori i mewn i’n benderfyniadau.
Oherwydd y tyfiant mewn diddordeb gwleidyddol a'r symudiad gan aelodau’r senedd i gefnogi’r dadliad o amgylch incwm sylfaenol, mae fy swyddfa i yn gweithio’n agos gyda’r felin drafod Autonomy i fodelu be ddylai incwm sylfaenol edrych fel.
Mae astudiaeth gynhwysfawr yn angenrheidiol i gael dealltwriaeth gyflawn o’r manteision a’r anfanteision o beth buasai incwm sylfaenol yn ei wneud yn benodol yng Nghymru a buaswn eisiau canlyniadau'r gwaith hwn i siapio polisi wrth fynd ymlaen.
Buasai’r gwaith yn edrych ar sut fydd incwm sylfaenol yn medru gweithio o amgylch datganoli, yr etholiad senedd ac unrhyw faterion arall unigol i Gymru a fuasai yn rhwystr i’w weithredu.
Mae gan y gwaith hwn y potensial i wneud newidiadau mawr i lond gwlad o bobl Cymru. Nid yw incwm sylfaenol yn offeryn mewn cystadleuaeth poblogrwydd gwleidyddol. Mae ganddo oblygiadau gwir ac mae astudiaethau sydd wedi ei wneud yn y gorffennol yn dangos llawer o fanteision; gwellhad iechyd meddwl, gwellhad mewn addysg, gollwng mewn nifer o drosiadau ac mewn caethiwed a thynnu pwysau oddi ar wasanaethau cyhoeddes fel gofal ac iechyd.
Yng Nghymru mae gennym y Ddeddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol, ac mae gennym ddyletswydd i rheini a fydd yn etifeddu ein cymdeithas. Buasai incwm sylfaenol yn gallu bod yn bolisi sydd yn dangos ein hymrwymiad i’r etifeddiad hyn, ac ein hymrwymiad i bobl go wir ar y bryd hwn, fel ffordd o ddangos bod ni yn gallu darparu i’r nifer, yn y presennol, ac yn y dyfodol.
Mae’n bwysig cofio bod nid yn unig am yr arian maw incwm sylfaenol; nid yw yn gymorth deunydd i rai mwyaf mewn angen. Mae darparu i’r rhai sydd yn angen y ddarpariaeth fwyaf yn bwysig iawn ac yn un o resymau i’w gael ond mae rhaid adlewyrchu'r effaith y byddai yn cael ar niferoedd eraill yn ein cymdeithas hefyd.
Mi fyddwn yn gallu gweld mwy o bobl yn siarad Cymraeg ac yn cymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau diwylliannol o fewn ein cymunedau, byddai hyn yn creu Cymru fwy bywiog ac iaith sydd yn ffyniannus. Byddai hefyd yn golygu bod y gwahaniaeth a brofwyd gan rheini tu allan i waith llawn-amser yn cael cydbwysedd a byddan yn adnabod mwy o werth mewn gwaith di-dâl, gwirfoddoli a gwaith gofal. Mi fydd y gwerth hyn yn helpu ni greu Cymru Ffyniannus lle mae pawb yn cael ei gyfri mewn prisiad economaidd. Mae gennym ni gyfle i ddangos i’r byd faint o gyfrifoldeb byd-eang sydd gan Gymru drwy ysbrydoli eraill i feddwl yn fwy cynyddol ac i greu byd rydym yn falch i fod yn rhan ohono.
Rydw i’n edrych ymlaen at weld dilyniant yn y drafodaeth o amgylch incwm sylfaenol, o fewn gwleidyddiaeth Cymru a thu hwnt, ac rydw i’n obeithiol fod y gwaith mae fy swyddfa i yn ei wneud yn mynd i helpu siapio’r drafodaeth ac i oleuo’r potensial sydd gan incwm sylfaenol.
Rydwyf wedi dweud wrth ein cyrff cyhoeddus i fod yn feiddgar yn eu camau nesaf. Nawr yw’r amser i dreialu’r syniadau hyn sydd i weld yn radical. Mae argyfwng digynsail yn angen ateb digynsail, ac mae’n angen i ni weld bod mi all incwm sylfaenol fod yn berthnasol i Gymru. Mi ddylai lles bod yng nghanol polisi a diwygio cymdeithasol, a rydwyf yn gweld bod incwm sylfaenol yn llwybr i Gymru fwy ffyniannus a mwy teg.
More about the author
Sophie Howe - @SophieHowe
Cardiff, Wales
As the world's first Future Generations Commissioner, Sophie’s role is to safeguard the interests and well-being of the future generations of Wales. As a mother to five of her own future generations, she’s driven by a passion for ‘leaving the world better than we found it’. Known for being a straight-talker and authentic leader Sophie was previously the youngest Councillor in Wales having been elected at the age of 21. Her career has spanned equality, policing as the Deputy Police Commissioner for Wales largest Police Force and advisor to two of Wales First Ministers.
Never afraid to challenge the status quo she has been described by the Big Issue Magazine as one of the UK's leading Changemakers. Her vision for the future is one with well-being at the centre of public policy and services. Since taking up post in 2016, she has led high profile interventions around transport planning, education reform and climate change, challenging the Government and others to not just talk the talk on sustainability and future proofing but walk the walk. She has represented Wales at the UN, the OECD and is currently the chair of the Network of Institutions for Future Generations. She wants to share the lessons we've learned in Wales with other nations looking to legislate in the interests of future generations.