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]
BIEN Congresses
The 24th BIEN CONGRESS in Maricá & Niterói – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 27-29 August 2025
Linkedin, Instagram, X – biencongress25 (at) gmail [dot] com
BIEN2024 was August 29–31 (Pictures and more coming soon)
Recent News, Opinion, and Research
Mona Chollet and Thomas Lemahieu, “Et vous, quel travail feriez-vous si votre revenue était assuré? [And you, what would you if you had a basic income]”
[Mathieu Ferry] Language: French Mona Chollet and Thomas Lemahieu, “Et vous, quel travail feriez-vous si votre revenue était assuré? [And you, what would you if you had a basic income]”, Périphéries.
Thought Infection, “Funding Universal Basic Income by Creating Money, Not Taxes.”
Thought Infection, “Funding Universal Basic Income by Creating Money, Not Taxes.” Thought Infection. March 23, 2014.
Allan Sheahen, the steeplechase runner of the BIG movement, has died
[Karl Widerquist] Allan “Al” Sheahen was an author, an athlete, a disc jockey, a promoter, a publisher, and a long-time campaigner for the basic income guarantee (BIG). He died at his home in Sherman Oaks, California on October 29, 2013 after battling myelofibrosis (a...
Marc Roux, “The Labor Transition: Shall we prepare for an “end of work”?”
SUMMARY: This article asks, in a time of emerging technologies, while artificial intelligence and adaptability of robots is getting better, a new problem may come up: will machines monopolize all active positions in our society? Under the name “universal income,” it...
Frank Worley-Lopez “‘Guaranteed’ Basic Income is ‘Feel Good’ Socialism at Its Worst: Government ‘Free Money’ Proposals Sound Great, Until They Don't.”
Frank Worley-Lopez “‘Guaranteed’ Basic Income is ‘Feel Good’ Socialism at Its Worst: Government ‘Free Money’ Proposals Sound Great, Until They Don't.” The Canal, April 10, 2014.
VIDEO: Daniel Häni and Enno Schmidt, “Basic income [Le revenu de base]”
[Mathieu Ferry] Language: French Daniel Häni and Enno Schmidt, “Basic income [Le revenu de base]”, Internet Archive, 2010.
Jax Blunt, “Basic income is something for nothing – why does anyone deserve that?”
SUMMARY: This article addresses one of the most powerful accusations against basic income: that it is something for nothing. Jax Blunt, “Basic income is something for nothing – why does anyone deserve that?” Making It Up. March 15, 2014.
OPINION: Global carbon tax petition calls for fossil fuel dividend
No doubt most Basic Income News readers are aware of an interesting intersection where the arguments for basic income overlap with the arguments on how to best control global warming.
Marie Burge, “P.E.I. ideal place to pilot basic income guarantee.”
Marie Burge, “P.E.I. ideal place to pilot basic income guarantee.” The Guardian, Charlottetown, April 10, 2014.
VIDEO: Why Basic Income? Campaign for a Basic Income Guarantee for PEI
AUTHOR’S SUMMARY: Living in poverty in Prince Edward Island is not pretty, and it is not necessary. Hear the voices of Prince Edward Island women talking about their experience living in low income. See photos of "our reality" taken by Prince Edward Island women who...
CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island, Canada: Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) Community Forum, May 1, 2014
The Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) Working Group for a Livable Income will host a Community Forum on the Basic Income Guarantee on Thursday, May 1, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the O'Leary Community Centre in Charlottetown, P.E.I. This meeting has been rescheduled; it has...
BIEN Congress speaker profile: Enno Schmidt
Enno Schmidt will speak at BIEN's Congress from June 27th through the 29th. Schmidt is an activist and co-founder of the Initiative Basic Income in Switzerland and president of the Cultural Impulse Switzerland Foundation. Schmidt is known for his 2008 film "Basic...