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]
Recent News, Opinion, and Research
Spain may issue ‘permanent’ basic income to fight COVID-19
Reports are emerging that Spain is hoping to deploy a “permanent” basic income type program in the near future. Spain aims to respond to the economic crisis from the global coronavirus pandemic.
Brazil: the National Senate approves Emergency Basic Income
Homeless people in San Francisco, during the corona virus crisis days. Picture credit to: Aljazeera On February 26th, 2020, the first case of Covid – 19 was registered in Brazil. Like in so many other countries, the coronavirus epidemic spread quickly in Brazil. On...
Punk Band Records a Song with Indepentarian Argument for Basic Income
Indepentarianism exists. The Danish punk band, Husligt Arbejde [House Work] has recorded an indepentarian song, “Borgerløn - the power to say no,” which translates into “Basic Income – the power to say no.” According to Google translate, the band describes its music...
United States: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls for basic income as a response to the corona virus crisis
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Picture credit to: Fox 32 As the corona virus crisis unfolds, the political atmosphere heats up in the United States. At the Capitol, a 2 trillion dollar bill is in the making, specifically to deal with the economic downturn caused by the...
Common Arguments Against Basic Income Don’t apply to the Emergency BI
The Guardian newspaper asked me to write an opinion piece about the Emergency Universal Basic Income (UBI). They changed my headline but otherwise, printed it as I wrote it. America is in crisis. We need universal basic income now. By Karl Widerquist, the Guardian, 20...
Italy / Europe: Petitions for basic income, in the face of the Corona virus pandemic
Two new petitions have been launched in Europe in response to the Coronavirus emergency. One has been launched in Italy on Change.org platform and is addressed to Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, asking for 10 €/day for all Italian citizens as the fastest and most...
Daniel Raventós and Julie Wark: “Covid-19 and the Need, Right Now, For a Universal Basic Income”
The pair Daniel Raventós and Julie Wark have analyzed the corona virus outbreak and consequent economic downturn and call for an immediate implementation of basic income in each country, truly a global response to a global crisis. It can be read, from the onset of the...
CNBC Interview of Karl Widerquist on Emergency Basic Income
Annie Nova, "How the Trump cash infusion would help millions of Americans: Interview with Karl Widerquist." CNBC, Mar 18 2020 Annie Nova, of CNBC, recently interviewed Karl Widerquist to ask about proposals for an Emergency Universal Basic Income during the twin...
Italy: Urgent petition in time of Corona Virus: “Citizen income for all! If not now, When?”
The Basic Income Network (BIN) Italia has published a petition pleading for the Italian governement and Parliament to immediately install an emergency basic income. There, it can be read: To the Italian government and Parliament EXPANDING THE CITIZEN'S INCOME SCHEME!...
The North American Basic Income Guarantee Congress has been cancelled because of Covid-19
The North American Basic Income Guarantee Congress has been cancelled because of the Covid-19 virus. The organizers have released the following announcement: With great dismay, we must announce that the NABIG 2020 Congress in Hamilton, Ontario in May will no longer be...
Canada: The Ontario Basic Income (cancelled) experiment, revealed
The findings of the McMaster University Basic Income Project (MUBIP) were released on the 4th of March 2020. The study looked into the impact of the Ontario Basic Income on over 200 recipients in one of the pilot sites, namely Hamilton-Brantford, where 1000 recipients...
Income Movement Endorses Three UBI-Supporting Candidates in Primary Elections on Super Tuesday
Blogger's note: this post is by a guest contributor, Stacey Rutland. The opinions expressed are hers alone. They are not necessarily shared by me or by the Basic Income Earth Network. -Karl Widerquist Super Tuesday is extra super this year! Three incredible...