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
UK: Parliament hosts oral evidence session on universal basic income (video)
The Work and Pensions Committee of the House of Commons in the British Parliament organized a panel on universal basic income (citizen’s income) at the University of Birmingham on January 12, 2017.
Øyvind Steensen, “Den norske modellen versjon 2.0” (BI as continuation of Norwegian Model)
(Image Credit: Gjesteblogg) Øyvind Steensen describes the Norwegian model, which involves two citizen salary schemes - family allowances and minimum pension, and possible improvements to it. The change to the current welfare system would be the provision of a basic...
UK (SCOTLAND): Student-led think tank launches new report on Basic Income
The Buchanan Institute, Scotland’s only student-led think tank, has prepared a report that makes a case for universal basic income in the UK. The report will be launched at a University of Edinburgh event on January 26.
BIEN affiliated organisations and their definitions of Basic Income
There has been much discussion, at congresses and elsewhere, as to what should be included in the definition of Basic Income. In order to inform the ongoing debate, I have studied the definitions to be found on the websites of organisations affiliated to BIEN.
Funding social security after automation
Because the distribution of purchasing power is essential to fuel our economic system, time has come to search for other sources of funding, other than “social security contributions” from labour.
THE NETHERLANDS: Citizens’ Initiative on Implementation of a Basic Income in 2018 Will Not Be Discussed in Parliament
On December 15th 2016, the ‘committee for citizens’ initiatives’ decided not to allow a discussion in Dutch Parliament about the proposal, organized by Basisinkomen2018, to implement a universal basic income (UBI) in 2018. Although enough citizens signed the citizens’...
“Changing employment trends and universal basic income” (The Saturday Paper)”
Mike Seccombe, National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper, reported on the recent championing of a universal basic income (UBI) by those interested in the cause and concerned about “wage inequality at record highs and technology plundering jobs.” In particular,...
US: Stanford University offers graduate seminar on Basic Income
Philosophy Professor Juliana Bidadanure has designed a graduate seminar on the philosophy of basic income, which she is teaching this winter.
AUSTRIA: Basic income campaign “Generation Grundeinkommen” launches (Jan 19)
Austrian activist Helmo Pape has founded the initiative Generation Grundeinkommen (“Generation Basic Income”) to campaign for a basic income in Austria. The initiative will be launched at an event in Vienna on January 19, 2017.
Basic income’s mutually supportive cousin
Unlike typical basic income programs, this system is implemented at the local (e.g., community or city) level by non-governmental entities.
BONN, GERMANY: “Basic Income tour” hosts inaugural workshop
BGE Tournee 2017 will commence in Bonn on January 21, with a series of lectures and discussion periods.
CANADA: Council of small town Smiths Falls rejects basic income trial, residents disagree
Councilors of the small Ontario town of Smiths Falls voted on December 19 last year to reject participation in its province’s basic income pilot, to the objection of residents and the town’s mayor. A petition requesting a re-vote is currently circulating online. The...