Dorotea Mar, “Basic Income is the life-saving boat of a sinking global economy: Interview with Andrey “Boby” Angelov.”

by | Apr 11, 2014 | Research

Dorothea Mar conducted this interview with Andrey “Boby” Angelov, the Content Creator for the Bulgarian Facebook page about the European Citizens’ Initiative for Unconditional Basic Income on the 17 January 2014, after the very successful campaign by Bulgaria Basic Income team.

Dorotea Mar, “Basic Income is the life-saving boat of a sinking global economy: Interview with Andrey ‘Boby’ Angelov” P2P Foundation, 5th March 2014

Karl Widerquist, “The Basic Income Grant as Social Safety Net for Namibia: Experience and lessons from around the world”

by | Apr 10, 2014 | Research

Karl Widerquist

Karl Widerquist

ABSTRACT: This paper discusses strategies for providing a social safety net and argues that the Basic Income Grant (BIG) is the best way forward for Namibia. BIG is a regular, unconditional income given to all individuals as a right of citizenship. This paper draws on international experience from countries (such as the United States, Brazil, India, Kenya, and others) that have experimented with BIG or employed some form of cash transfer. It compares these experiences with the more traditional targeted approach, in which recipients are required to work unless they can show they are unable to work or unable to find work. It discusses the successes and weaknesses of various approaches and the pros and cons of implementing unconditional cash transfers versus targeted programs. It assesses the potential financing of a fiscally sustainable BIG and the impact of BIG on poverty and inequality for Namibia.

Karl Widerquist is an Associate Professor at SFS-Qatar, Georgetown University. He holds two doctorates—one in Political Theory from Oxford University (2006) and one in Economics from the City University of New York (1996). He was a founding editor of the journal Basic Income Studies. He has published articles in journals such as Political Studies; the Eastern Economic Journal; Politics and Society; and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. He has published six books including: Independence, Propertylessless, and Basic Income: A theory of freedom as the power to say no (author), Basic Income: An Anthology of Contemporary Research (co-editor); and Exporting the Alaska Model: Adapting the Permanent Fund Dividend for Reform around the World.

Karl Widerquist, “The Basic Income Grant as Social Safety Net for Namibia: Experience and lessons from around the world,” in Social safety nets in Namibia: Assessing current programmes and future options, Research Department of the Bank of Namibia (editor), Windhoek, Namibia: Bank of Namibia, September 26, 2013, pp. 43-67

Nigel Morris, “Universal Credit: Government's welfare reform ‘may be scrapped after next election’”

by | Apr 9, 2014 | Research

[Citizen’s Income Trust]

SUMMARY: On the 19th February The Independent reported that ‘only 3,200 people – a fraction of the original target – had been signed up to receive Universal Credit …. Under the original timetable, one million people were supposed to be receiving the payment by April, rising to 1.7 million a year later. … The DWP admitted that only 3,200 had been enrolled for Universal Credit by the end of November … The vast majority are young, single jobseekers, the least complicated category of claimant. As the Government has spent £612m getting the scheme off the ground, the spending so far equates to £191,250 per head. … Government sources insisted David Cameron and senior ministers remained committed to Universal Credit. … However, Whitehall officials were yesterday reported to fear the whole project could be scrapped after the general election, whichever party is victorious in May 2015. … Anne Begg, the chair of the Commons Work and Pensions Select committee, said the “jury is out” over its future.’ www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-governments-welfare-reform-may-be-scrapped-after-next-election-9139458.html

Nigel Morris, “Universal Credit: Government’s welfare reform ‘may be scrapped after next election,’” The Independent 19 February 2014.

Herbert J. Gans, “Basic Income: A Remedy for a Sick Labor Market?”

by | Apr 7, 2014 | Research

FROM THE ABSTRACT: Given the low job creation of recent years, the persistence of poverty, and stagnating wages for so many, it is time to think of cash grants to Americans, according to the author. He offers us a historical review of past proposals and some practical new ideas of his own.

Herbert J. Gans, “Basic Income: A Remedy for a Sick Labor Market?” Challenge, Volume 57, Number 2, March-April 2014.