BIEN | Opinion
Opinion Posts
Here you will find articles expressing opinions about current issues in the Basic Income debate. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of BIEN.
How Basic Income Can Support Climate Tech Solutions
The evolution of climate action has reflected the need for affordable options. Universal basic income (UBI) has the unique opportunity to empower everyone to change the world. The warming environment necessitates rapid development and deployment of climate...
Revolutionizing Rural China: Shareholding Reforms as a Catalyst for Economic Empowerment
China's ongoing rural reforms are fostering practices akin to basic income, offering dividends to residents in the vast countryside. This development draws a parallel to the broader discussion of basic income within the context of China's social security system and...
Chinese youth ‘optimistic’ toward basic income
In a recent study conducted examining attitudes among Chinese youth towards basic income, notable findings emerged, highlighting both a lack of comprehensive understanding and a positive disposition towards the concept. The study, conducted through a questionnaire by...
A Four-Sentence Argument for Basic Income
My main perspective is an argument with four premises: 1. It's wrong for anyone to come between anyone else and the resources they need to survive in almost all circumstances. 2. Freedom is the power to say no. 3. A private property economy (or a socialist economy)...
Unified Basic Income: A Viable Solution for Israel and Palestine?
While the proposition may appear daunting, the exploration of Universal Basic Income (UBI) for both Israelis and Palestinians is certainly worthwhile. Given the sustained conflicts in the region — from bombings in Gaza to raids in villages — and the current Israeli...
UBI Provides a Safety Net During Bank Failures
This month Silicon Valley Bank defaulted causing the biggest bank failure since Lehman Brothers in 2008. The US government helped in finding a solution to stop the depositors from losing their money. The main reason for the bank's failure was a bank run because of the...
New blog post argues for UBI to reform capitalism
In a blog post entitled "Re-engineering our fragile economy and democracy", Geoff Crocker argues that UBI "addresses ethical issues of income inequality, gender inequality, precarity, and security" and should be at least in part financed by "central bank monetary...
Negative Income Tax (NIT) is Preferable to UBI
NIT, UBI, Guaranteed Income et al, are ultimately functions of our tax, fiscal, and monetary systems. Whatever initialism is used the same end results will be realized. A NIT is the most appropriate way of describing how a UBI etc. will be implemented and ultimately...
COP27: An opportunity for basic income
Leaders from around the world are attending to discuss climate change, its consequences, and how to face them. This event is COP27 which took place in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. One of the focuses of the recent climate conference is how to support countries, especially...
Countries that Have Tried Universal Basic Income
Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a program that provides citizens of a country with a monthly or annual stipend. It is given to individuals regardless of their employment status, income, or resources they own. The objective of Universal Basic Income is to reduce...
After Roe, Families Need Universal Basic Income More Than Ever
TIME Magazine has published an article by Stacey Rutland, the founder of Income Movement - an organization building broad grassroots coalitions in support of basic income in the United States. Rutland writes a personal story of how important an abortion was to her and...
Where does Korea’s basic income movement go next?
On March 9th, 48.56 percent of Korean people voted for Yoon Seok-yeol of the People Power Party which won only 0.7 percent more compared to 47.83% for Lee Jae-myung who pledged to implement basic income. With less than 1 percent difference in his loss, there is the local election coming in two weeks and another general election in two years. Where will Korea’s basic income movement go after Lee Je-myeong ‘s defeat?