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
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.
US: New Project Pledges $10 Million to Support Basic Income Research
The US-based Economic Security Project — co-chaired by future of work expert Natalie Foster, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, and Roosevelt Institute Fellow Dorian Warren — has committed $10 million to projects related to “how a ‘basic income’ could rebalance the economy and ensure economic opportunity for all.”
THE NETHERLANDS: Party for the Animals wants Universal Basic Income to be investigated
“The Earth offers enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed” is the opening sentence of the election-program of the Party for the Animals (“Partij voor de Dieren”, PvdD). This document has been released in advance of the Dutch parliamentary elections,...
P.E.I., CANADA: Legislature agrees unanimously to work with federal government to set up BIG pilot
In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, December 7, the of Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, agreed to “pursue a partnership with the federal government for the establishment of a universal basic income pilot project” on PEI.