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
Portugal: Conference on pilot projects in July
From the 1st to the 3rd of July, 2020, at the University of Minho (Braga, Portugal), a conference on Basic Income experiments will occur, focused on its political and social policy implications. From the conference website it can be read: The debate about basic income...
Was Thomas Paine a Proponent of Universal Basic Income? Short answer: yes.
I was recently asked whether the statement "Thomas Paine was a proponent of Universal Basic Income" is true. Although that statement is slightly controversial, it is true. Let me explain: Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a contested concept. Different people within the...
London, UK: The Ethics of UBI in a Changing Economy
The Ethics of UBI in a Changing Economy King's College London London, UK, April 24, 2020 Submission link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=eubi1 Abstract registration deadline: February 28, 2020 Submission deadline: February 28, 2020 Final paper submission:...
Japan: Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa attempts a “social experiment” by giving out 9 million US$
Japanese enterpreneur Yusaku Maezawa, enfatuated by the idea of a basic income, is giving out, unconditionally, 9 million US$ to 1000 randomly selected people from his Twitter followers group. This initiative was launched on January 1st 2020, on his Twitter page....
United States: New survey shows overwhelming support for basic income among Democrat students
A new survey focused on basic income has been published by College Pulse (December 2019). 2000 college students were asked several questions, among which, for instance, if they supported the implementation of a basic income in the United States, such as that proposed...
19th BIEN Congress: Videos from plenary sessions
The Basic Income Earth Network's latest Congress has taken place at Hyderabad, India, on the 22-26th August 2019. Now, the videos of all the plenary sessions are online and available for viewing. More information at: BIEN CONGRESS 2019 webpage ...
United States: Senators Mitt Romney and Michael Bennet plan an unconditional child benefit
US Senators Michael Bennet (left) and Mitt Romney (right) On Sunday, the 15th of December 2019, Republican Senator Mitt Romney and Democrat Senator Michael Bennet presented a plan to establish an unconditional child benefit cash transfer in the United States. Under...
Thoughts on the British elections and the rise of nationalism
I wasn't planning to write about the British elections until a friend asked. I'm not confident that I'm right about my conclusions, but here are some disjointed thoughts in no particular order. 1. I hate the parallels between US & UK politics: You get...
New book: Exploring Universal Basic Income
The full title is "Exploring Universal Basic Income: A Guide to Navigating Concepts, Evidence, and Practices", and it's the most recent publishing of the World Bank on the specific issue of basic income, by the hands of editors Ugo Gentilini, Margaret Grosh, Jamele...
Podcast: Anna Coote and Louise Haagh on The Ralph Miliband Programme
Anna Coote (left), Louise Haagh (right) "Universal Basic Income and Universal Basic Services: the case for radical change" is the title of the podcast hosted by Robin Archer, Director of the Ralph Miliband Programme, a prestigious lecture series on the spirit of free...
United Kingdom: Lib Dem candidates back basic income pilots
Jane Dodds and Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson. Picture credit to: The Week Over fifty candidates for the UK’s Liberal Democrat party (Lib Dem) have signed a personal commitment to back basic income pilots in the next parliament, if elected. The intention to run...
VIDEO: Universal Basic Income – the power to say ‘no’, for everyone
On December 2nd, the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was celebrated. To mark that date, Beyond Trafficking and Slavery, an editorial partnership between openDemocracy and researchers from Africa, Asia, America, Australia and Europe, have commissioned...