Quid pro quo? A cross-national analysis of European citizens’ opinions toward the universality and conditionality of a basic income

Abstract

Basic Income (BI) has gained traction as a potential welfare reform, yet its political feasibility remains contested. This study explores how public support for BI varies across European countries, focusing on two central policy design dimensions: conditionality (e.g., work requirements) and universality (e.g., eligibility for newcomers). Using data from a vignette experiment embedded in the 2023 Cross-National Online Survey (CRONOS) across ten European countries, we analyze how design preferences intersect with individual-level factors political ideology, economic insecurity, and welfare chauvinism. Results show robust support for conditional BI models, indicating widespread preference for linking benefits to job-seeking. In contrast, preferences regarding universality are more fragmented and context-dependent. Right-leaning and chauvinistic individuals tend to oppose universal and unconditional models, while those experiencing economic insecurity are generally more supportive—though this relationship varies across countries and BI designs.