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: Public Service Union Calls for Basic Income “Micro-Pilot”
UNISON, a major public service employee union, has released a 20-point manifesto, calling on candidates in the West Midlands mayoral election to declare which of the 20 “asks” — including one for a UBI pilot — they would implement if elected.
Nimai Mehta, “A universal basic income to step up economic reform”
Nimai Mehta maintains that UBI should not be seen only–or even primarily–as a way to make India’s welfare system more efficient, but should instead be seen as a way to drive other anti-poverty reforms.
NEW ZEALAND: Gareth Morgan’s new political party puts off UBI to “phase two”
Gareth Morgan, who supports universal basic income as part of his “Big Kahuna” plan for New Zealand, has launched a new political party. However, UBI is not on the table as an immediate reform.
Himanshu, “Is India ready for universal basic income?”
The economist Himanshu argues that developing nations such as India should adopt UBI only if it is accompanied by other reforms aimed at improving and increasing the availability of public services.
Interview: Basic income can ‘mend the net’
In his new Kindle book Mending the Net, author Chis Oestereich describes how a basic income can address some of the "wicked problems" facing humanity. For Oestereich, the basic income can help society rethink its consumption patterns and possibly upend the "treadmill...
BIEN is 30: Interview with Philippe Van Parijs
How has BIEN changed in the past 30 years? What have been its biggest challenges, most difficult times, and greatest successes? And what’s next?
VIDEO: BIEN’s 30th Anniversary Reunion
This fall, BIEN celebrated 30th anniversary of its founding. Some of its founders convened for a conference at Université catholique de Louvain for the occasion. Watch the videos here.
VIDEO: Guy Standing on the impending revolt of the precariat
BIEN cofounder Guy Standing (SOAS, University of London) was invited to speak on the “politics of utopia” at Oktoberdans, Norway’s most prestigious contemporary dance festival, on October 25, 2016.
Will basic income lower crime?
One often overlooked potential benefit is the effect of basic income on crime rates. A basic income could create more stable households and increase the likelihood of parents spending time with their children.
Gary Fowler, “Universal basic income: If a robot takes your job, it could actually be good for you”
Writing in the San Francisco tech zine VentureBeat, entrepreneur Gary Fowler argues that universal basic income is a viable solution for technological unemployment.
UK: The Institute for Policy Research’s “Basic Income and the European Welfare State” (Dec 13)
The goal of the academic-oriented workshop is to contextualize the investigation of the implementation of basic income within the research on comparative welfare states.
NEW LINK: GiveDirectly launches GDLive
In November 2016, GiveDirectly launched a new website, GDLive, which reports live and unedited updates from recipients of its cash transfers.