New book explores why and how guaranteed-income programs should be a social norm in the US

New book explores why and how guaranteed-income programs should be a social norm in the US

Natalie Foster believes in creating economic resilience for families. She says income inequality is a real problem; some people work three jobs just to stay afloat.

Foster, who serves as the president and co-founder of the Economic Security Project, was a guest on Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look.” She talked with host Rose Scott about how guaranteed-income initiatives are transforming the lives of families across the country.

Foster also discussed her new book, “The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy.” The book explores what it would be like if all Americans were guaranteed housing, health care, a college education, dignified work, family care, an inheritance and a stable income.”

To listen to the report by LaShaw Hudson of WABE, click here.

Basic Income to be discussed July 20 at Festival of Ideas, Unicamp, Campinas, Brazil

Basic Income to be discussed July 20 at Festival of Ideas, Unicamp, Campinas, Brazil

Panel 9 Universal basic income and the future of social policy in the global south

[Interpretation into English and Portuguese, No Spanish]
Venue: Fausto Castilho
Moderator: Leandro Ferreira, Head of Brazilian Basic Income
Network
Speakers:

  • Eduardo Suplicy, State Deputy of São Paulo for the
    Workers’ Party, PT, Brazil
  • Jurgen De Wispelaere, Institute for Policy Research,
    Univeristy of Bath (UK) and Basic Income Earth Network
    (BIEN)
  • Leticia Bartholo, Secretary of Evaluation, Information
    Management and Single Registry of the Ministry of Social
    Development and Assistance, Family, and Fight Against
    Hunger
  • Nikhil Dey, Founder Member and Full-Time Activist –
    MKSS, India
  • Eduardo Zanatta, City councilman, Workers Party [PT],
    Brazil
  • Eduardo Moreira, Founder of ICL new

To learn more about the Festival of Ideas, click here.

Denver Basic Income Project Releases Year One Research Report

Denver Basic Income Project Releases Year One Research Report

Photo: Armando Geneyro
Note: The use of the term Basic Income in this article does not conform to BIEN’s definition.

Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP) has released the results its Year One quantitative and quantitative findings. What the research has discovered supports what DBIP always believed – that guaranteed income gives families and individuals financial tools, and a cushion to cover their most basic needs per their circumstances.
DBIP’s research shows:
You can review the Year One Research Report Executive Summary for an in-depth look at the research design, cost analysis due to reductions in public service utilization, and notable findings from both the quantitative and qualitative reports.
You can read the full reports on the research page of DBIP’s website.
READ THE SUMMARY

Given that Denver annually spends over $40,000 on shelter and medical costs per person experiencing homelessness and is also dealing with the humanitarian and fiscal crisis of people arriving from the borders, cost-effective programs like this are extremely valuable. As the first and largest project of its kind studying the impact of guaranteed income on homelessness, the research and results of the Denver Basic Income Project have the potential to be replicated and scaled across the U.S.
The Year One report is a monumental milestone for the Denver Basic Income Project, and we would not be here without the support of the community and our generous funders, including the City and County of Denver, The Colorado Trust, the Denver Foundation, and the Wend Collective.
Monthly payments of $1,000 could get thousands of Los Angeles homeless people off the streets, researchers say

Billionaire backlash shows the power of basic income

“Last month, the US state of Iowa enacted a law banning local governments from adopting basic income programmes. This follows similar developments in Arkansas, Idaho, and South Dakota.

In Texas, after lawmakers failed to get their own such law adopted, the state’s attorney general filed a case to prevent Harris County from launching the basic income pilot that its officials had authorised. Declaring the pilot “unconstitutional”, the attorney general has taken his case all the way to the Supreme Court of Texas. What is going on here? And why do the intricacies of seemingly obscure local US politics matter?”

To read the full article for Al Jazeera by Neil Howard, click here.