The IGP Social Prosperity Network have released their latest report on UBS: a literature review of Universal Basic Services by Anna Coote, Pritika Kasliwal and Andrew Percy.

Who is implementing Universal Basic Services already? Why are they doing it? What do they expect to achieve?

These questions are addressed in this review of the current state of basic services around the world and provides insight into how services can be expanded everywhere.

The report explores the hypothesis that strengthening and extending universal services is an effective way of tackling poverty and improving wellbeing for all. It draws on academic literature including conceptual thinking, political and economic analysis, case studies and evaluations, as well as some ‘grey literature’ and factual reportage. The main focus is on the UK, but there are implications for – and lessons to be learned from – other countries. It builds on earlier work by the Institute of Global Prosperity in the 2017 report, Social Prosperity for the Future: a proposal for Universal Basic Services.