by Karl Widerquist | Nov 11, 2010 | Research
ROSE, Dave as told to WOHLFORTH, Charles (2008), Saving for the Future: My Life and the Alaska Permanent Fund, Fairbanks: Epicenter Press. 2008
According to one of the authors, the book is really two books. Wohlforth said, “The first half is really for anybody – it’s a slice of life … The second half is getting much more into the permanent fund and public policy and finance.” Wohlforth said the second half of the book is the first time he knows of that a complete history of the Permanent Fund has been written.
Information about the book is online at:
https://www.epicenterpress.com/getpage.cfm?file=book7046.html&userid=85273851
A review on the book by Katie Spielberger for Juneau’s Capital City weekly is online at:
https://www.capitalcityweekly.com/stories/092910/new_713459218.shtml
by Karl Widerquist | May 27, 2010 | News
A recent editorial in Peace FM online calls for Ghana to introduce an oil-dividend similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend as a measure to aid transparence, avoid the resource curse, and ensure that all Ghanaians benefit from expected oil revenues. The editorial looks deeply into the present situation in Ghana and at the positive examples of Alaska and Norway.
The editorial, “Kosmos Energy Apologizes To The Ghanaian Government: So What?” by SS Quist, is online at: https://news.peacefmonline.com/features/201004/41213.php.
by Karl Widerquist | May 27, 2010 | News, The Indepentarian
The Associated Press has been reporting that more than 5,000 and perhaps as many as 10,000 Mongolians have been protesting for a resource dividend. Mongolia is a poor nation, currently in the process of developing what appear to be major mineral reserves. Back in 2008, during elections, both of Mongolia’s major parties promised to set up an Alaska-style resource dividend. But the ruling parliament has not so far taken action to do so. The protestors have demanded that the government move forward on its promise. Some are also calling for a crackdown on corruption and the dissolution of the current parliament.
Two stories on the protests can be found online at:
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/world/asia/06briefs-protest.html
https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hRaEkUdT6H4un1MakIf4UFNwvmFwD9ESRBVG0
by Karl Widerquist | Mar 20, 2010 | News
An editorial in a government-sponsored newspaper, reprinted by AllAfrica.com, discusses how Zimbabwe create an Alaska-style dividend out of revenue from Zimbabwe’s new diamond mines. The article discusses the resource curse through the example of Nigeria’s oil. It suggests that the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is one of the reasons Alaska has avoided the resource curse. The article is online at: https://allafrica.com/stories/200912110512.html (Subscription required)
by Peter Knight | Jun 22, 2024 | News
Note: Alaska already has the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), a similar UBI-like program funded from revenue derived from invested state petroleum revenues, so Oregon would be the second, not the first U.S. state with such a program if the Oregon Rebate passes in the November 2024 election. The Alaska PFD was started in 1982 to make sure Alaskans directly benefit from its resources in the wake of its oil boom in the 1970s. It has usually been on the order of $1000 – $2000 for each Alaska resident including children.
“A proposed measure to create a universal basic income program which would put $750 in the pocket of every Oregon resident, including children, has officially qualified to be put on the ballot in November.
The initiative, Oregon Rebate, proposes to increase the minimum corporate tax rate for Oregon-based companies making more than $25 million per year in sales to 3 percent tax, whereas the current minimum sits under 1 percent.
The amount raised would then be given to the Oregon’s State Department of Revenue for rebate distribution, which means that every Oregonian—regardless of their age or income—would receive a guaranteed income. Any money left from the rebate would be used to fund services in favor of senior citizens, health care and public education.”
To read the full article in Newsweek by Giulia Carbonaro, click here.
