Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan hosted Sarath Davala, chairman of the Basic Income Earth Network this month. He was joined by national legislators Mr. Sean Liao and Dr. Juchun Ko, with civil society groups, Bitcoin, blockchain and cryptocurrency advocates, as well as UBI Taiwan’s team in attendance.
The forum comes as Taiwan is preparing to deliver its second universal cash transfer by the end of October. Davala discussed Taiwan’s widening inequality, young people delaying families, plunging fertility rate and the quiet epidemic of loneliness.
“These are the symptoms that the system needs innovation,” Davala said.
The discussion turned to how basic income might be distributed. Legislator Ko pressed a sharp critique of proposals to use central bank digital currency (CBDC). For him, he was concerned about putting this much power in the government.
Davala, who later spoke on Ko’s podcast, discussed some of the philosophy of how UBI should be constructed.
“At its core,” Davala said, “it is about freedom.” He went on to describe how the basis for this freedom comes from love for your fellow citizen.
The exchange captured the tension between two possible futures: one where innovation risks becoming surveillance, and another where it serves as a tool for deeper freedom.
Taiwan’s demographic crisis was a centerpiece of the forum. With one of the world’s fastest-aging populations, the country faces the prospect of becoming a “super-aged society.” Henry Lee of UBI Taiwan presented their policy proposal for a youth basic income.
Lee argued this would improve education, investments, and family stability. From these starting points, the demographic cliff may soften.
The meeting signaled growing mainstream discussions of basic income in Taiwan. Both Liao and Ko have met UBI Taiwan repeatedly this year.
Davala concluded his presentation by noting that Taiwan can be a laboratory for how societies will respond to economic precarity and social fracture.
“We need structural change, not small change,” Davala said.
