Universal basic services

Coote, Anna and Gough, Ian ORCID: 0000-0002-0597-3106 (2025) Universal basic services. In: Akenji, Lewis, Vergragt, Philip J., Brown, Halina Szejnwald, Smith, Thomas S.J. and Wallnöfer, Laura Maria, (eds.) Vocabulary for Sustainable Consumption and Lifestyles: A Language for Our Common Future. SCORAI Studies in Sustainable Consumption. Routledge, Abingdon, UK, 319 - 321. ISBN 9781032952482

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Abstract

Universal basic services (UBS) describes a set of proposals for achieving universal access to life’s essentials within planetary boundaries. The component terms can be defined as follows: Services: Collectively generated activities that serve the public interest Basic: Services that are essential and sufficient – rather than minimal – to enable people to meet their needs Universal: Everyone is entitled to such basic services according to need, not ability to pay. An inherent normative assumption is that governments should ensure that every individual has access to the core necessities that make life possible and worth living. The concept has emerged in the Global North, though its influence is spreading globally.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	© 2026 selection and editorial matter, Lewis Akenji, Philip J. Vergragt, Halina Szejnwald Brown, Thomas S.J. Smith and Laura Maria Wallnöfer; individual chapters, the contributors
Divisions:	Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2025 16:15
Last Modified:	26 Nov 2025 18:03
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/130141

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