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Author: Julia Choucair Vizoso, Senior Fellow at Arab Reform Initiative
The COVID-19 crisis is igniting interest in the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) in the Middle East and North Africa region, as policymakers, economists and activists grapple with deteriorating economies and major gaps in social protection. This paper outlines the concept’s multiple – and often conflicting – origins and supporters and explores various UBI experiences worldwide. It asks and tries to answer the fundamental question of whether UBI can be a way to realize social justice demands in MENA and if so, whether it should be a key demand for those pushing for a progressive agenda.