by Josh Martin | Jan 24, 2016 | News
In 2014, the Liberal party passed Policy Resolution 100, pledging to create a “Basic Annual Income” for Canada. Brean’s article discusses this resolution in context of the Liberal party’s recent electoral success and plans for the current government. By providing thorough context of the basic income movement and support in Canada—from recent publicity in Alberta, Prince Edward Island, and other places as well as the research conducted by Evelyn Forget at the University of Manitoba on the “Mincome” experiment in the 1970s—Brean’s article concisely summarizes many of the key factors in the debate on a basic income in Canada.
Joseph Brean, “Prospect of minimum income gaining steam as Canada clamours for new ways to manage welfare and benefits”, Montreal Gazette, 27 December 2015.
by Josh Martin | Jan 23, 2016 | News
A new film by Jon King (Envisuals) on basic income in the UK, Means to An End, will be released on 17 February 2016. The trailer highlights many of the problems faced by British citizens on benefits at the moment and includes interviews with prominent basic income supporters in the UK, like Malcolm Torry, Guy Standing, and Barb Jacobson.
To watch the trailer, click here.
by Josh Martin | Jan 22, 2016 | News
Saxo Bank, an investment bank based in Denmark, has released a list of its “outrageous predictions” for 2016. Among these predictions, economist Christopher Dembik claims that Europe will consider the introduction of a universal basic income to ensure that all citizens can meet their basic needs in the face of rising inequality and unemployment. This will come on the back of increased interest in basic income from Spain, Finland, Switzerland, and France.
To read the full list of predictions, click on the link below:
Christopher Dembik, “Outrageous Predictions for 2016”, Saxo Bank,
by Josh Martin | Jan 20, 2016 | News
Kane’s article focuses on Ellie Harrison’s project in Glasgow where she has received £15,000 from Creative Scotland to fund a year-long exploration of an artist’s livelihood in one city. While many have critiqued Harrison’s project as a waste of money, Kane believes it is setting the tone for future discussions about similar basic incomes for all citizens, not just Harrison.
Pat Kane, “Is the ‘Glasgow Effect’ within control of those with no power in their lives?”, The National, 9 January 2016.
by Josh Martin | Jan 19, 2016 | News
Tom Ashbrook’s radio show On Point at WBUR Radio in Boston held an hour-long discussion on basic income on January 14, 2016. Ashbrook invited four guests onto his show to discuss some of the key topics for discussion in the basic income debate, including technological unemployment, income inequality, work disincentives, and previous pilot projects. His guests were Karl Widerquist, co-chair of the Basic Income Earth Network; Megan McArdle, a columnist at Bloomberg View; Veronique de Rugy, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University; and Albert Wenger, a managing partner at Union Square Ventures. While three of the guests support the idea of a basic income—McArdle does not—the callers into the show varied in their reactions to the idea, with one caller imagining a basic income would help her go back to school and another caller asking how it is any different from communism.
To listen to the full episode, click here.
