Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a radical social policy proposal that commits the state to provide regular cash payments to all citizens without any tests or conditions. This practice, which stands out in the fight against poverty and income inequality, has been on the agenda in different regions throughout history. Today, it is being intensively discussed again by economists and decision-makers to solve the economic and social problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This study examines the potential of ETG in reducing poverty and income inequality and its role in combating job losses caused by the rapidly developing automation and artificial intelligence-supported production models in recent years. It also analyzes in detail its financing challenges, its effects on labor force participation and its relationship with existing social assistance systems. The findings of the study reveal that the ETG has significant potential in combating poverty and income inequality, but its burden on the budget should be taken into account in countries lacking natural resources. Given that technological transformation will profoundly affect many sectors, the ETG can be an effective tool to tackle such structural transformations.
Keywords: Universal Basic Income, Poverty, Income Inequality, Technological Unemployment, Social Security