A Basic Income is a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement.

UBIdata: Data for Basic Income Research and Policy

At its most recent congress, BIEN launched UBIdata, an innovative new tool with a mission to match reliable information about basic income with a rapidly growing global user base of individuals and organisations eager to learn more. UBIdata gathers, processes and...

Rentier Capitalism, the Precariat and Basic Income for China

Throughout history, capitalism has evolved, changing character and changing the class structure defining each era. The changes in the 20th century can be understood by reference to what Karl Polanyi called the Great Transformation. Briefly, in his formulation, in the 19th century, mainly in Britain, there was an initial period in the evolution of industrial capitalism that was dominated by financial capital, in which old systems of distribution, regulation and social protection were dismantled, in what we would call the pursuit of a ‘free market economy’.

Taiwan Makes History with Universal Cash Payment Plan

Taiwan is making history by sending out a one-time universal cash payment of $6,000 New Taiwan dollars (NTD) to every citizen “young and old.” This is the first time the country has implemented such a policy, and it comes as a result of excess tax revenue of $450...

Join Hands & Hearts With BIEN

A convergence of various circumstances in the 21st century has made a Basic Income policyan achievable goal. Discussions and policy debates about Basic Income are taking place in countries across the world. We see this as an incredible opportunity for BIEN to...

This South Korean Presidential Election is Vital

There are rare moments when a combination of threatening circumstances leads to a wonderful transformation that only a short time before would have been unimaginable. This year may be such a moment. The Republic of Korea could set an example to the world that would...

The Royal Society of Arts Explains: [2 minutes]

BIEN Congresses

The 24th BIEN CONGRESS in Maricá & Niterói – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 27-29 August 2025

Call for Papers

Linkedin, Instagram, X – biencongress25 (at) gmail [dot] com

BIEN2024 was August 29–31 (Pictures and more coming soon)

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Mike Ludwig, “Report: A Carbon Tax That Would Create Jobs, Cut Emissions and Put Money in Your Pocket.”

Jun 17, 2014 | Research

SUMMARY: “Giving taxpayers $250 per month, reducing carbon emissions and boosting the economy. This is what the future could hold if the United States imposed a revenue-neutral carbon tax on fossil fuel production.” Mike Ludwig, “Report: A Carbon Tax That Would Create...

UNITED STATES: Former Secretary of Labor endorses introducing a carbon tax and using the revenue to support BIG.

Jun 17, 2014 | News

[Karl Widerquist] Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor (under the Clinton Administration), is already on record as saying that some form of basic income guarantee is “almost inevitable” in response to the changes in the labor market brought about by changing...

Shane Greenup, “Surviving as an entrepreneur.”

Jun 17, 2014 | Research

SUMMARY: This article address the question of how difficult it is for most people to pursue entrepreneurial activities. It concludes by arguing for a Universal Basic Income, “If everyone had access to a guaranteed income which would be sufficient to ensure food and...

Dylan Matthews, “More evidence that giving poor people money is a great cure for poverty”

Jun 17, 2014 | Research

[Josh Martin] This post examines the common objection to the basic income that people will spend the cash on alcohol and cigarettes. The article discusses a new paper from the World Bank that found that transfers are not consistently used for alcohol or tobacco....

Bill Jordan, “Authoritarianism and the precariat.”

Jun 16, 2014 | Research

Abstract: This article traces present-day policy debates on precarious employment to the nineteenth century. Liberal and paternalist versions of state authority emerged as responses to early capitalist development, and precariousness was an issue that contributed to...

Frances Coppola, "Hounding the Poor"

Jun 16, 2014 | Research

[Josh Martin] Coppola dissects issues in the tax credits system in the UK, claiming that it fails to reflect the flexibility of the labor market, especially for self-employed individuals. Coppola then goes on to say that the Universal Credit will not make things any...

VIDEO: Citizen’s Income Trust Conference 2014: Livestream

Jun 16, 2014 | News

The Ctitizen’s Income Trusts (the BIEN affiliate in the United Kingdom) 2014 Conference, “Citizen's Income: a solid foundation for tomorrow's society,” held on Friday 6th June 2014 at the British Library, has been captured on video and posted on the Occupy London...

Matthew Johnson (editor), “Special Issue: The Precariat.”

Jun 16, 2014 | Research

SUMMARY: Guy Standing’s book, The Precariat: A New and Dangerous Class, addresses labor market insecurity and argues for basic income as a solution. The journal, Global Discourse, devotes an entire issue to the Precariat. According Matthew Johnson, who was the guest...

Tyler Morning Telegraph’s Editorial Board, “A job is superior to guaranteed income.”

Jun 15, 2014 | Research

Tyler Morning Telegraph’s Editorial Board, “A job is superior to guaranteed income.” Tyler Morning Telegraph [Tyler, Texas], Sunday, 8 June 2014.

Richa, "A Basic Income Guarantee as Reparations for Group Injustice"

Jun 15, 2014 | Research

This paper looks at the issue of reparations for group injustice, mainly in the USA, and suggests a basic income guarantee as a possible means of addressing that issue. The need for and legitimacy of such reparations are first established. The author details some...

Federico Pistono, Robots Will Steal Your Job, But That's OK: How to Survive the Economic Collapse and Be Happy.

Jun 15, 2014 | Research

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: You are about to become obsolete. You think you are special, unique, and that whatever it is that you are doing is impossible to replace. You are wrong. As we speak, millions of algorithms created by computer scientists are frantically running on...