Libertarians should endorse a basic-income guarantee not only because it would work better than our current social welfare system, but also because it is a positive value in its own right. Because the initial owners of land seized it, Lockean libertarian principles necessitate some form of compensation, and a government-guaranteed basic income is the alternative best suited to fill that role and can do so without violating individual property rights.

Matt Zwolinski is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of San Diego. He is a contributor to The Independent Review, the quarterly journal from the Independent Institute.
EconomyEntitlements and WelfareFederal Budget PolicyFederal Tax PolicyGovernment and PoliticsPublic ChoiceSocial SecurityTaxesTaxes and Budget
Other Independent Review articles by Matt Zwolinski
Spring 2024 Libertarianism, Oversimplified