Realization of the UBI principles as an answer to the COVID-19 challenges

The article identifies the need to take measures to maintain stability on the labor market and develop social assistance to the population in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. It has been established, that under these conditions, a more consistent implementation of the principles of universality and unconditional provision of social transfers is required in accordance with the concept of unconditional basic income (UBI). It is revealed that these principles are most consistently implemented in Spain, where unconditional basic income has been introduced. A practice close to the use of UBI is typical for the United States and Singapore. In the number of European countries, transfers are used to employees of enterprises in crisis situations, which means the circle recipients of social assistance increase. An increase in the scale of social assistance in China with the use of vouchers for the purchase of goods was recorded, which contradicts the principles of the UBI. Progress was noted in the application of the principles of universality and unconditional social support in modern Russia. Taking into consideration, new experience, the controversial issues of unconditional basic income concept are analyzed: its potential efficiency, dependence on the level of taxes, the impact on inflation, the need for empirical verification of UBI principles. To sum ap, the progress in the implementation of these principles inherent in the UBI in modern conditions brings the prospect of its implementation closer