A Basic Income is a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement.
The Royal Society of Arts Explains: [2 minutes]

Recent News, Opinion, and Research
US: Researchers plan study of basic income’s effects on children’s brains
A research team consisting of economists, developmental psychologists, and a neuroscientist is developing an experiment to examine the effects of a basic income on the neural development of young children.
World Economic Forum blog: “Canada’s basic income experiment – will it work?”
Apolitical and the World Economic Forum has published an interview with two leaders behind the planning of a pilot study of a basic income guarantee program in Ontario, Canada.
World Bank blog: “Being open-minded about universal basic income”
The Safety Nets Global Solutions Group at the World Bank has recently blogged about basic income, explaining the income level of a country can indicate where its government is on developing a social security / welfare protection system for its citizens.
United States (San Francisco): Sean Kline speaks at sold out event on Universal Basic Income
On January 23rd, Sean Kline, Director of the San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment, spoke at a Questions & Answers event where he discussed his ideas for universal basic income (UBI) pilots in San Francisco, as well as other cities across the United...
Robin Clunie: “How to use Scotland’s land to create a brand new people’s welfare”
(Image credit: CommonSpace) Robin Clunie, an architect, outlined in a recent article the way Scotland can take control of its land to provide for all of its citizens. With an amendment to land ownership laws, this could be done, according to Clunie. Clunie...
Kevin McKenna, “The Scottish pioneer whose plan for a basic income could transform Britain”
The Guardian published an interview with Matt Kerr, the Glasgow councillor who has spearheaded an effort to establish a basic income pilot in the city.
The Economist, “Bonfire of the subsidies: India debates the case for a universal basic income”
The Economist has published a short article focused on the basic income chapter of India’s recent Economic Survey, and argues that the case for basic income is more compelling in India than elsewhere.
SPAIN: A Rational And Fair Basic Income Proposal For The 21st Century: How Could It Be Financed In Spain?
“Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction. First: It's completely impossible. Second: It's possible, but it's not worth doing. Third: I said it was a good idea all along!” Arthur C. Clarke (1917 – 2008) Like any serious social programme, basic...
DUBLIN, IRELAND: “Can Ireland afford Universal Basic Income?” – a Public Debate (Feb 21)
The Dún Laoghaire branch of the Social Democrats will hold a public debate on basic income on Tuesday, February 21. The discussion will be chaired by Social Democrat TD Róisín Shortall and speakers will include Eamon Murphy and Sean Ward, both from Social Justice Ireland, and Anne Ryan and Sinéad Gibney, both of Basic Income Ireland.
Anthony Painter, “A universal basic income: the answer to poverty, insecurity, and health inequality?”
Anthony Painter, Director of the Action and Research Center at the RSA, in an editorial article described an experiment in the middle of the 1970s in the small town of Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. As Painter describes, there were “statistically significant benefits” to...
Basic income pilot in Kenya to receive up to $493,000 from eBay founder’s firm
The Omidyar Network announced in February 2017 that it will donate up to $493,000 to the charity GiveDirectly to support its major basic income experiment in Kenya.
UBI needs peers to control services of general interest (part one)
Basic income needs to be accompanied by changes in general interest services.