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]

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BIEN Congresses

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

Call for Papers Announcement: Nov. 2024

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

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


Basic Income

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


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Recent News, Opinion, and Research

David Graeber has died at the age of 59

David Graeber has died at the age of 59

BIEN joins with many people around the world in mourning the sudden death of David Graeber, Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics, at the age of 59. Obituaries 'For David Graeber', by Barb Jacobson 'David Graeber's death: I am shocked - what more...

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Basic Income March 2020

Basic Income March 2020

In conjunction with International Basic Income Week 2020 taking place on 14-20th September, Income Movement – a US-based organisation campaigning for the passing of basic income legislation – has organised the second annual international Basic Income March on 19th...

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Basic Income and microcredit together

Basic Income and microcredit together

Katrin Oemmelen has written an article, 'Using poverty reduction policies in the fight against COVID-19', which is a summary of her dissertation. The results of a six-year research project in Namibia shows that access to financial tools such as universalbasic income...

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Researcher sought to study the Maricá experiment

Researcher sought to study the Maricá experiment

Details of the unconditional local currency income experiment in Maricá can be found here; with a translation in Portuguese here. The European Commission is advertising for a post-doctoral researcher to study the unconditional local currency experiment in Maricá in...

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Basic Income World Wide Survey

Basic Income World Wide Survey

During the first Worldwide Meeting of UBI Advocates and UBI Networks, held on 7th of April, 2020, comprising members of BIEN who were interested in advocacy, a proposal resolved to carry out a survey about the economic measures taken by different countries in response...

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The Latin American Basic Income Network

The Latin American Basic Income Network

It was late October 2019, when different academics and activists from all over Latin America were preparing to meet in the south of Chile to share our ideas and perspectives on UBI for the first time. The idea of forming a regional basic income network had been...

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A new overview report from the Stanford UBI Lab

A new overview report from the Stanford UBI Lab

The Basic Income Lab at the University of Stanford has published a useful overview report, What we know about Universal Basic Income: A cross-synthesis of reviews This report is structured as follows. First, it provides an overview of the reviews. Then it synthesizes...

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