Pope Francis and Basic Income in the context of Catholic social teaching and theology

by Peter Knight | Apr 2, 2022 | News

Dr. Markus Schlagnitweit, Director of the Catholic Social Academy Austria, has written an article about Catholic teaching and theory and basic income. Several statements of Pope Francis about basic income were reviewed.

In his paper, Schlagnitweit rejects the claim that the basic income violates principles of Catholic social teaching. To the contrary, basic Income is not only compatible with the principles of subsidiarity, solidarity and personal dignity, but it also strengthens them. Furthermore, implementation of an unconditional and universal basic income can help reduce social injustice and other distortions resulting from employment at market-determined wages and a narrow definition of work.

Uncondtional und universal basic Income, which ensures livelihood and social participation, is a fundamental right, according to Markus Schlagnitweit.

Basic Income Network Germany financed the translation and published the paper in several languages:

English

German

Spanish

French

Italian

Portuguese

Polish

Social Europe Blog and UBI

by Peter Knight | Mar 29, 2022 | News

Social Europe is an influential blog that some years ago published some articles both for and against Basic Income that Philippe Van Parijs edited into a book. The blog has now returned to the subject with a new post, A European basic income? 

The ethos is now positive rather than somewhere between negative and hesitant as in the past. But note that the basic income proposed does not meet BIEN’s definition, as the payments are tapered above a median income and apparently must be actively applied for by those with incomes above the median: “To discourage the wealthy from actually claiming UBI if they do not need it, starting at the national median income automatic payouts would be tapered at a linear rate with increasing income. In principle, everyone could still claim their UBI regardless, but unclaimed funds would be channelled into the sovereign-wealth fund. Such a universal right to income would be more in line with progressive ideals than a universal income paid out automatically without exceptions.”

An interesting feature of the proposal is the following: “If European progressives choose to embrace UBI, it should be at EU level, administered by the union and paid directly to every adult EU denizen each month. Minors’ caregivers should receive a reduced payout, with the remaining amount accruing to a European sovereign-wealth fund. Part of this accumulated residue would be paid out to individuals as a lump sum of starting capital once they reached maturity, with part retained in the sovereign-wealth fund to help fund the scheme over the long run.”

The BIEN hubs project: Appointment of a Co-ordinator

by Peter Knight | Mar 29, 2022 | News

Since 1986, BIEN has facilitated the global Basic Income debate. It is now looking forward to an exciting new three-year BIEN Hubs project, funded by the Mustardseed Trust, that will further expand and globalise its activity, and enable it to meet the many demands now being placed upon it by the increasingly lively Basic Income debate.

We are therefore looking for a paid Co-ordinator who will enable BIEN to meet its constitutional objectives and the objectives of the BIEN Hubs project. For further details, please click here.

If you would like to apply, please download, complete, and send the application form, which you can find here.

Closing date for applications: 12 noon London time (British Summer Time, UTC+1) on Tuesday the 19^th of April 2022

Interviews will take place by Zoom on the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th of May 2022 during the period 11:00 to 14:00 London time (British Summer Time, UTC+1)