In this interview, Daniel Raventós defines basic income and describes the most recent study for its implementation in Spain, done with other experts on the subject.
The title clearly indicates the author’s feelings about an unregulated market economy. One of the cures L’Hirondelle proposes is a basic income. She writes, “A sudden ‘no money for anyone’ path would be highly disruptive and risky. In contrast, ‘money for all’ via a universal livable income implemented in each country in the world would at least create the possibility of a peaceful transition from a crapitalist to a livable economy.”
Photo: Armando Geneyro Note: The use of the term Basic Income in this article does not conform to BIEN’s definition.
Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP) has released the results its Year One quantitative and quantitative findings. What the research has discovered supports what DBIP always believed – that guaranteed income gives families and individuals financial tools, and a cushion to cover their most basic needs per their circumstances. DBIP’s research shows:
You can review the Year One Research Report Executive Summary for an in-depth look at the research design, cost analysis due to reductions in public service utilization, and notable findings from both the quantitative and qualitative reports. You can read the full reports on the research page of DBIP’s website.
Given that Denver annually spends over $40,000 on shelter and medical costs per person experiencing homelessness and is also dealing with the humanitarian and fiscal crisis of people arriving from the borders, cost-effective programs like this are extremely valuable. As the first and largest project of its kind studying the impact of guaranteed income on homelessness, the research and results of the Denver Basic Income Project have the potential to be replicated and scaled across the U.S. The Year One report is a monumental milestone for the Denver Basic Income Project, and we would not be here without the support of the community and our generous funders, including the City and County of Denver, The Colorado Trust, the Denver Foundation, and the Wend Collective.
Because Elon Musk has decided to start talking about a concept he refers to as “universal high income” as being different and seemingly better than universal basic income, I feel the need to set the record straight here.
Simply put, universal high income is a universal basic income that is high enough to be considered “high.” Universal basic income is not a low universal income.
As defined by the Basic Income Earth Network, the international organization founded in 1986 to foster informed discussion around the world about the topic of basic income, the current definition of basic income is “a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means test or work requirement.”
Note: These pilot programs do not meet BIEN’s definition of basic income.
“Ingrid Sullivan, 48, used her cash from the San Antonio guaranteed basic-income program to rent a home where her grandchildren can play in the yard. And Monique Gonzalez, 41, moved herself and her family out of a San Antonio motel.
A Denver resident, Jarun Laws, 51, used his basic income to pay his rent and buyfood.
“My life was always just a couple hundred dollars short,” Sullivan told Business Insider. “For the first time, I can breathe.”
Guaranteed basic income has become an increasingly popular poverty-solution strategy in US cities. Over 50 municipalities have tried the GBI model since 2019, offering low-income participants between $100 and $1,000 a month, no strings attached, for a set time period.
To read the full article in Business Insider, click here.
