Abstract

The essay analyzes the issue of basic income in North America. In particular, it focuses primarily on the academic debate that developed during the 1960s. Subsequently, it scrutinizes the negative income tax project proposed during Nixon's Presidency and the pilot projects launched in the United States and Canada during the 1970s. Finally, it focuses on the current debate, explains the reasons why basic income has practically disappeared from the political agenda and analyzes the Ontario Basic Income Pilot and the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. Eventually, the paper highlights the need to consider the context conditions to fruitfully assess the impact of a basic income.