by Citizens' Income Trust | Jul 26, 2013 | Opinion
Åsa Lundqvist, Family Policy Paradoxes: Gender equality and labour market regulation in Sweden, 1930-2010, Policy Press, 2011, viii + 155 pp, hbk, 1 847 42455 6, £65
The Nordic countries provide generous gender-neutral parental leave and benefits and also publicly-funded childcare, and the result is an unusual combination of high fertility and high female labour market participation. This book is a detailed study of family policy in Sweden, particularly in relation to two paradoxes: that policy promotes both mothers as carers in the home and as workers in the labour market, and that men and women are regarded as both different and equal.
The book is a study of how Swedish social policy relating to the family has arrived at its present state and of more recent developments which have been driven in different directions by a greater individualisation in society (and thus defamiliarisation) and an understanding of women as disadvantaged within the family. Most recently, a reintroduction of a benefit for carers at home, and the introduction of labour market incentives for women, have exacerbated the paradoxicality of the situation.
As the concluding section of the book suggests, the fundamental paradox is between equality and freedom of choice. We might put it like this: How to preserve radical gender freedom in the face of government policies aimed at equality in the labour market? And how to preserve gender equality in the face of government legislation designed to give to carers freedom over how they organise their households and their labour market participation? These are vital questions for any government, and are thus an essential field of debate for anyone promoting debate on social policy reform.
This is a well-researched and thought-provoking book.
by Karl Widerquist | Oct 6, 2011 | News
On September 20-21, 2011, the World Bank hosted a 24-hour online chat forum and live webcast debate on solutions needed to increase women’s economic opportunity and their voice in decision making. The event was entitled “Open Forum: Gender — Getting to Equal.” CNN International’s Hala Gorani hosted the discussion. Participants included World Bank President Robert Zoellick, Nike Foundation President and CEO Maria Eitel and others. Thousands more people participated online.
The global community submitted more than 250 ideas to solve this global challenge. The most popular idea, with 936, votes from several countries around the world, was the proposal for a Basic Income for all. The second most popular idea was supported by only 289 votes (see the vote totals here). During the forum, however, Basic Income was not a major topic of discussion. It was mentioned only once, and after 30 seconds discussion went on to another topic (see video part 5 at 7:28).
Some participants in the online chat told BI News they were disappointed that the most popular topic was hardly discussed in the forum. Although they appreciated that the World Bank held an open forum in which participants could submit solutions and vote on them, ignoring the most popular proposal could lead to dissatisfaction with such events, conveying the impression that World Bank experts do not take the suggestions of ordinary people seriously.
For the tally of votes at the online forum:
https://live.worldbank.org/open-forum-gender/ideas/agrees
The World Bank’s description of the event is online along with video of the discussion at:
https://live.worldbank.org/open-forum-gender
by Peter Knight | Apr 25, 2024 | Events, News
“The FRIBIS Annual Conference 2024 focuses on partial basic income models and their implementation into various welfare systems. By examining feasible designs of partial basic income, the conference aims to identify ways to advocate for the idea of an unconditional basic income politically. FRIBIS is particularly interested in contributions related to social protection floors, sustainability, and issues in an international context.
Date: Monday, October 7, 2024, 1:00 PM to Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 3:30 PM CEST
Location: Freiburg University (Germany)
Format: Hybrid
Call for Papers and Workshops Deadline: June 30, 2024
Helpdesk: conference@fribis.uni-freiburg.de
The conference will focus on models of a partial basic income and their implementability in various welfare state systems. FRIBIS is particularly interested in contributions related to:
Contributions from researchers and activists of all genders, locations, and cultures are welcome. Abstracts and full texts can be submitted for the core conference and the open part. The FRIBIS Best Paper Award (€1,000) will be awarded to the best contribution by a young researchers. For more information, please refer to the attached Call for Papers and Workshops or visit our conference website.”
by Toru Yamamori | Mar 29, 2024 | Events, News
Open forum on feminist definitions of basic income
co-organised by FRIBIS UBI and Gender team (FRIBIS-UBIG) and by BIEN working group for Clarification of BI definition (BIEN-CBID)
7.30am Eastern Daylight Time (North America) / 12.30pm British Summer Time / 1.30pm Central European Summer Time / 8.30pm Japan Standard Time / 11.30pm New Zealand Standard Time
Facilitators: Chloe Halpenny, Annie Miller, Toru Yamamori, and Almaz Zelleke
Please register here.
Researchers, activists, and community members interested in basic income are invited to this open forum to discuss feminist definitions of basic income.
Background:
Is a penny a month basic income?
Would basic income replace all existing income transfer system?
What might happen to social services if basic income were to be introduced?
Why are some proposals to distribute money to the head of household called basic income, while many others define basic income as individual-based?
Currently there are many proposals made under the name of basic income. The current discourse of basic income has diverse origins. Some are from ivory towers, some are from grassroots social movements such as the Women’s Liberation movement. The difference on the definitions of basic incomes reflects (at least partially) these diverse origins.
It has been a while since this difference of the definitions attracts debates. However, except a few occasions, voices from feminist perspectives have been underrepresented. Here we would like to attempt redressing this situation. In this workshop we would not pursue to reach a particular consensus or direction. It is a place where diverse voices would be raised and heard. All those interested in the discussion are welcome to participate.
by Guest Contributor | May 9, 2023 | Events, News
This year’s FRIBIS Annual Conference will take place in Freiburg, Germany from 9 to 11 October and will focus on the topic “Care and Gender – Potentials & Risks of UBI“.
Over the past few decades care work and the social dimension of gender have increasingly become central issues in both academic and public debates. The close connection between them is evident from the high number of women involved in care activities. This year’s FRIBIS Annual Conference will examine both topics independently of each other but it also aims to explore their overlaps in content. The common reference point will be the Universal Basic Income, whose potentials and risks for the care field and gender-related issues will be explored.
Applications for active participation in the conference are now open for submission. The deadline is 30 June, 2023. As a university institute that strives to bring together both civil society actors and academics, FRIBIS is looking forward to receiving applications from academics in the field as well as from participants from civil society. More detailed information on the conference contents and registration procedures can be found here. Participation as a member of the public is also possible (registration opens on 5 July 2023).
Guest Contributor is Tobias Dumschat of FRIBIS
