Tanja Milevska, “EU ‘has the power’ to put in place a universal basic income.”

by | Apr 22, 2014 | Research

SUMMARY: This article gives an extended report on the April 10 conference, dedicated to the Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) in Europe and on the movement for UBI connected with the conference. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted the conference, which gathered well-known writers, philosophers and activists to reflect on the possibilities to introduce the UBI at the EU level.

Tanja Milevska, “EU ‘has the power’ to put in place a universal basic income.” EurActiv, 14/04/2014.

”]UBI flyers. Brussels, 2014. [Flickr]

Véronique de Rugy, “What’s the welfare initiative uniting liberals and conservatives?”

by | Apr 20, 2014 | Research

[Jason Murphy]

SUMMARY: The PBS NewHour’s “Making Sen$e” column gives us more from their interview with Libertarian-leaning economist Veronique de Rugy. Excerpts were found in the PBS video we posted earlier. The editor notes that de Rugy “doesn’t sound that different from Graeber”.

Véronique de Rugy, “What’s the welfare initiative uniting liberals and conservatives?” PBS News Hour, April 16, 2014.

Paul Solman, “Why America’s favorite anarchist thinks most American workers are slaves [interview of David Graeber].”

by | Apr 19, 2014 | Research

David Graeber -wikimedia

David Graeber -wikimedia

Following up to their 9-minute story on basic income, the PBS News Hour (United States) has published a text interview with David Graeber on the topic of basic income. Graeber, a professor of anthropology and the London School of Economics, is a leader of the Occupy Movement, and he has recently become an outspoken advocate of basic income. Paul Solman’s conducted the interview in which Graeber discusses how a basic income would liberate people from wage slavery.

Paul Solman, “Why America’s favorite anarchist thinks most American workers are slaves [interview of David Graeber].” The PBS News Hour, April 17, 2014.

A guaranteed basic income gives everyone access to the market, liberating workers to do the work they want to do, says London School of Economics professor David Graeber. Photo by Cole Hawkins/The Image Bank via Getty Images via PBS.

A guaranteed basic income gives everyone access to the market, liberating workers to do the work they want to do, says London School of Economics professor David Graeber. Photo by Cole Hawkins/The Image Bank via Getty Images via PBS.

Felix Oberholzer-Gee, “Will a guaranteed income ever come to America?”

by | Apr 19, 2014 | Research

[Ginny Holbert]

SUMMARY: In a follow up to their video, PBS Reports, the Swiss native and Harvard Business School professor suggests that Europeans and Americans have differing beliefs about the causes of rising income inequality. Because Europeans are more likely to believe that wealth is attributable to luck and inheritance, they are more likely to support redistributive policies such as the proposed Swiss basic income guarantee.

Felix Oberholzer-Gee, “Will a guaranteed income ever come to America?” PBS Newshour, April 7, 2014

Could America ever seriously entertain a guaranteed basic income? Above, members of 'Generation Basic Income' in Switzerland post with 8 million Swiss coins after securing a ballot referendum on an uncondition basic income. Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images via PBS

Could America ever seriously entertain a guaranteed basic income? Above, members of 'Generation Basic Income' in Switzerland post with 8 million Swiss coins after securing a ballot referendum on an uncondition basic income. Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images via PBS