The onset of the 2020 global COVID-19 pandemic led to a marked increase in positive discussion of Universal Basic Income (UBI) in political and media circles. However, we do not know whether there was a corresponding increase in support for the policy in the public at large, or why. Here, we present three studies carried out during 2020 in UK and US samples. In study 1 (n = 802, April 2020), people expressed much stronger support for a UBI policy for the times of the pandemic and its aftermath than for normal times. This was largely explained by the increased importance they attached, in the pandemic context, to a system that is simple and efficient to administer, and that reduces stress and anxiety in society. In study 2 (n = 400, May 2020), we pitted UBI against a conditional targeted social transfer system. Preferences for UBI were stronger for pandemic times than for normal times. This was partially explained by a number of perceived advantages, such as simplicity of administration and suitability for a changing world. In study 3 (n = 397, September 2020), we found that the headline results of studies 1 and 2 persisted six months after the onset of the pandemic, albeit with attenuated effect sizes. Our results illustrate how a changing social and economic situation can bring about markedly different policy preferences, through changes in citizens’ perceptions of what is currently important.

2020年全球COVID-19大流行的爆发导致政治和媒体界对通用基本收入（UBI）的积极讨论显着增加。但是，我们不知道公众对此政策的支持是否相应增加，或者为什么。在这里，我们介绍了2020年在英国和美国样本中进行的三项研究。在研究1（n  = 802，2020年4月）中，人们对大流行时期及其后果的UBI政策表示的支持比平时大得多。在大流行的背景下，他们越来越重视管理简单有效的系统，并减轻了社会的压力和焦虑，这在很大程度上解释了这一点。在研究2（n = 400（2020年5月），我们将UBI与有条件的有针对性的社会转移系统相对。大流行时期对UBI的偏好强于正常时期。许多已知的优势部分解释了这一点，例如简化管理和适应不断变化的世界。在研究3（n  = 397，2020年9月）中，我们发现，研究1和2的总体结果在大流行发生后的六个月内持续存在，尽管效应大小有所减弱。我们的结果表明，不断变化的社会和经济形势如何通过改变公民对当前重要事物的看法而带来明显不同的政策偏好。