by BIEN | Sep 6, 2015 | News
The Finnish Government is interested in the basic income. Prime Minister Juha Sipila has expressed support for the idea, saying, “For me, a basic income means simplifying the social security system.” 4 out of 5 Finns currently support the basic income, but some policy experts have expressed hesitation to endorse the policy. Ohto Kanninen, from Tank Research Centre, said, “What would be the impact of a basic income to employment in Finland – positive or negative? We can’t really foresee how people would behave with a basic income.” Consequently, a pilot is being considered. The project would pay 8,000 people from low income groups four different monthly amounts, possibly ranging from €400 to €700. The Finnish constitution requires every citizen must be equal, which could prevent the project, but this requirement could be waived to gain information for the good of society
For more information on the Finnish basic income project, see:
“Finland considers basic income to reform welfare system” Maija Unkuri, BBC News. August 20, 2015.
by BIEN | Jul 6, 2015 | News
On June 19 and 20, basic income activists from around the world met in Seoul to discuss the prospects of future basic income programs and the results from recent experiments. In South Korea, an unconditional basic income is only embraced by members of academia, Green Party Chairman Kim Jho Kwang-soo, and the mayor of Seongnam, Jae-myung Lee, but public support is growing for a youth dividend based on the basic income. At the conference, Tsinghua University professor Cui Zhiyuan expressed a belief that China could eventually adopt a universal basic income and that such an action was necessary to guarantee China remains a “social country”. Sarath Davala, author of Basic Income: A Transformative Policy for India, also reported that a pilot program testing out the basic income in India was a success, reducing debt for families and increasing the time children, especially girls, spent in school.
For more information on International Congress on Basic Income in Korea, see:
International Congress on Basic Income in Korea
by BIEN | Jun 28, 2015 | News
Basic Income Now is a website that seeks to unite basic income activists from around the world and inform interested individuals about basic income supporters in their area. The website features a detailed explanation of the concept of basic income and provides arguments in favor of its feasibility specific to individual countries. The most unique portion of the website is the “They Didn’t Have to Die Page” which shares the stories of the countless victims of poverty that a basic income could have saved. This page adds emotion and reality to the website and helps remind activists why the implementation of basic income is such a pressing goal.
For more information on Basic Income Now, see:
Basic Income Now
by BIEN | Jun 27, 2015 | News
The Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare of Namibia, has come out in criticism of Namibia’s current economic model based on self-interest and profit in favor of the Blue Economy, an economic philosophy centered around social and environmental justice. Kameeta, who was appointed by President Hage Geingob with the goal of tackling poverty head-on and narrowing the gap between the rich and poor, is advocating for the Basic Income Grant (BIG). Kameeta’s program would provide a universal minimum income allowance be paid to any person not above 60 years of age who is not earning above the tax threshold (currently N$ 50,000 per year) and is not receiving any other government grant, such as disability grant, maintenance grant or war veteran grant. Namibia experimented with the BIG from 2008-2009 by providing recipients a monthly grant of N$100. Kameeta renewed his support for the BIG and criticized Namibia’s economic model during the Blue Economy Conference in Windhoek on April 27-28 2015.
For more information on Bishop Kameeta’s advocacy for the BIG, see:
“Calls to review Namibia’s economic model” The Southern Times. May 11, 2015.
by BIEN | Jun 25, 2015 | News
This article lists the cryptocurrency projects that are establishing basic income programs without the help of governments. If you’re thinking of investing in cryptocurrency, speak to a blockchain consultant. They will be able to better inform you about the market and the latest developments in it. For example, you can now buy Bitcoin with your PayPal account in under 10 minutes. Take a look at this review to find out more. The benefits and drawbacks of cryptocurrency schemes are discussed, noting that cryptocurrency basic income programs are innovative in that they operate outside the political process and can make an immediate change. With cryptocurrencies like bitcoins becoming more and more interesting to both parties online as well as off as a viable source of currency, there are individuals who are interested in finding out more about it. For those people and everyone out, there is a well of information available online. Some can use places such as btcnn for all the latest bitcoin news as well as information on other forms of cryptocurrencies. In order to trade cryptocurrencies for other assets, customers currently need to seek the services of a cryptocurrency exchange. If your business deals with cryptocurrencies and is therefore thinking of launching it’s own cryptocurrency exchange, head to https://dex.openledger.io/white-label-solution/ for more information. However, while there is a lot to learn about this new age of cyber currencies, there are still several drawbacks. The two major drawbacks of these programs is that many of the world’s poorest people lack access to technology and, since verifying users would be difficult, Sybil attacks where individuals or groups rob the fund by claiming grants from multiple accounts remains possible.
Nathan Schneider, “The Cryptocurrency-Based Projects That Would Pay Everyone Just for Being Alive” Vice, May 29, 2015
