A UBI would cause inflation because it would be funded by either injections of cash or borrowing, both of which are inflationary.

One way in which the United States government finances its spending is through the use of the money printing press. The “print more money” argument, in general, is illogical, especially when applied to financing UBI. At the core of the coronavirus pandemic, the United States passed extensive economic stimulus to “stimulate” the American economy. In 2020, the Fed partook in actions which brought about the printing of more money, increasing the possibility of rampant inflation. This has seemingly been the case, as the latest CPI numbers increased by an astounding 8.3%, near a four-decade high. Printing more dollars for the purposes of UBI will increase inflation further. Borrowing Throughout the past few decades, American spending projects have been financed by borrowing. A likely scenario is that UBI would be financed through borrowing, the same way American COVID relief bills were funded. While unpopular, in recent years, American politicians have run up a budget deficit in the trillions, reaching an astonishing $3.13 trillion in 2020. In 2021, the United States allocated 5% of its total federal spending to paying the interest on its debts, for a total of $352.3 billion. As a reference point, the United States allocated $234.3 billion to pay for Veterans Benefits and Services. Is UBI important enough to accumulate more debt and interest, when 5% of the yearly federal budget is already used to pay interest accumulated on debt? Conclusion Undoubtedly, inflation is a significant issue facing the American public. For a nation that religiously relies on car travel and fossil fuel production, coronavirus spending and the energy price increase exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war has been disastrous for the economy. The cost of food and other essential goods will continue to rise, providing an additional cost on the average American. During this inflationary crisis, with nearly 15% of Americans living in poverty, inflation has caused significant suffering for the American people. While supporters argue that UBI will alleviate these pains, further spending will aid further inflation as American spending bills have done in recent years. As a result, Yang’s UBI plan does not make sense from an economic perspective, given its propensity for increasing inflation.