2025/12/18 by Bastian Becker, Hanna Schwander · 2 voices
Social Sciences · #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Social Policy and Reform Studies #Populism, Right-Wing Movements
paper · doi:10.1177/09589287251400044
openalex publication_date 2025/12/18 · openalex created_date 2025/12/18 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
This study examines attitude polarization as a key determinant of the political viability of policy reforms, using Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a case in point. While public support for UBI is often high in aggregate, little is known about the extent and nature of underlying divisions. Drawing on a stratified online survey (n = 3076) conducted ahead of a local UBI campaign in Germany, we study who supports what type of basic income, and why . Methodologically, we extend conventional conjoint analysis to directly capture polarization over policy design, and complement it with open-ended responses to elicit respondents’ reasoning. Our findings show that polarization centers on the defining features of UBI – its generosity, unconditionality, and financing – yet also reveal areas of common ground for broader political coalitions. By combining a novel methodological approach with a focus on polarization, our study offers new insights into how public attitudes shape the political feasibility of policy reforms.