Universal basic provision is the deliberate near-term social target that guarantees reliable access to the necessities of life and converts falling technical costs into lived access before fuller post-scarcity arrives.

Universal basic provision is the deliberate social commitment to guarantee every person reliable, agency-preserving access to the necessities of life: food, clean water, shelter, energy, sanitation, healthcare, education, communication, basic material goods, and the infrastructure required for agency and participation. It is not full post-scarcity and not a promise that everyone receives every desired good. It is the institutional bridge between today’s partial abundance and tomorrow’s fuller post-scarcity: a way to convert falling technical costs into a rights-protected floor before abundance becomes automatic.