The Opportunity-Equalizing Abundance Theory posits that Universal Basic Income (UBI), when combined with technology-driven reductions in the cost of goods and services, dismantles socioeconomic barriers to entrepreneurship. By providing a universal psychological safety net, UBI fosters resilience, self-efficacy, and agency, enabling individuals—particularly those from non-privileged backgrounds—to pursue creative and innovative ventures without the existential fear of financial ruin. Integrating positive psychology, growth-mindset theory, psychological capital, and evolutionary life-history theory, the theory argues that UBI, in an age of technological abundance, shifts individuals from scarcity-driven “fast” life-history strategies to abundance-enabled “slow” strategies characterised by exploration, long-term goal pursuit, and intrinsic motivation. Technological advancements in AI, automation, and renewable energy reduce material and psychological costs of experimentation. Empirical evidence from large-scale UBI pilots demonstrates significant increases in entrepreneurial activity, especially among lower-income, female, and minority participants, with minimal or no reduction in overall labour supply. The theory proposes structured UBI programmes with accountability mechanisms to preserve personal responsibility while mitigating risks such as dependency or inflation. By countering the privilege of wealth and democratising opportunity, this framework offers a powerful pathway toward greater societal innovation, psychological well-being, and reduced inequality.
Gandolfi (Sun,) studied this question.