BIEN | News

News on the global Basic Income debate


Emergency basic income: Distraction or opportunity

Emergency basic income: Distraction or opportunity

"This themed issue, guest-edited by Jurgen De Wispelaere and Troy Henderson, is devoted to examining, first, whether the widespread use of immediate and unconditional cash transfers as a policy response to the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis has provided...

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Money as Medicine – New England Journal of Medicine

Money as Medicine – New England Journal of Medicine

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash An article by Eric Reinhart, M.D. has been published this month. Teaser: "What the expanded child tax credit essentially did, at a cost of $128 billion over 1 year (less than 2% of the federal budget, 3% of 2023 U.S. health care...

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Seattle Pilot doubles employment rates

Seattle Pilot doubles employment rates

Photo by Darpan on Unsplash Note: Like many pilot programs, this one does not meet the BIEN definition of basic income because it is not universal for residents in its geographic region. "A Seattle-area guaranteed basic income pilot gave low-income residents $500 a...

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Flint, Michagan, Pilot for Mothers

Flint, Michagan, Pilot for Mothers

Rx Kids launched their pilot this January 2024 where every person who gives birth in Flint, MI will receive a basic income during late stage pregnancy, $1,500 (lump-sum), and the first year of their baby's life, $500 each month. What’s so exciting about...

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BIEN Congresses

Basic Income, Solidarity Economy and Social Protection

The 24th BIEN CONGRESS in Maricá & Niterói – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 27-29 August 2025

Maricá provides unconditional transfers to almost half of its population.  7 other cities in the state of Rio de Janeiro have already created their own local currencies inspired by Maricá’s Citizens Basic Income.  Our other host city, Niterói provides transfers benefiting more than 100,000 individuals.

Pre-congress events: Latin America Day: 25 Aug. & Early Career Day: 26 Aug.

Call for Papers Announcement: Nov. 2024

Linkedin & Instagrambiencongress25 (at) gmail [dot] com

BIEN2024 was August 29–31 (Pictures and more coming soon)

Papers, pictures, and videos from BIEN2023.


Basic Income

A Basic Income is a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement. Read more


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