Scott Santens
Editor of Basic Income Today
EDITOR’S PICKS
Universal basic income is about universal basic security
Imagine, for a moment, that the robots have won. The year is 2049—the same year researchers once pegged as the one in which A.I. would become smart enough to pen a bestselling book more adeptly than a human author could. Technological advancements have upended the transportation, manufacturing and retail sectors, rendering nearly half of the U.S. jobs that existed in the year 2020 obsolete. You’ve just had a surgery—a relatively minor, outpatient procedure performed by a surgical robot—and now you’re on your way to the
Latest Articles
Humanity needs to make some drastic changes
Universal basic income is gaining ground in some cities
The Many Places Basic Income Has Been Tried Out in Some Way
Is UBI in New York City’s future?
Income Inequality
Do markets require redistribution to avoid market failure due to excessive inequality?
Wealth inequality is escalating at an alarming rate not only within the U.S. but also in countries as diverse …
With growth this tepid, is it time to give ‘helicopter money’ a whirl?
Growth is the default setting for modern economies. Humans innovate and improve, find better ways of doing things. Only …
The Significance of an Unconditional $1,000 per month
Andrew Yang’s plan to provide $1,000 in government-sponsored payments to every American adult each month — an “allowance for …
‘Socialism for the rich’: the evils of bad economics
Article originally published on June 6th, 2019. In most rich countries, inequality is rising, and has been rising for …
Pilots & Experiments
California state lawmaker introduces bill to create universal basic income of $1K a month
California Assemblyman Evan Low (D) introduced a bill this week to create a universal basic income in the state, …
The Many Places Basic Income Has Been Tried Out in Some Way
After hundreds of years, basic income seems to be finally catching on. The general idea — that the government should give …
Two-Year Universal Basic Income Pilot Proposed in Washington State
Presidential candidate Andrew Yang has made waves in the Democratic primary contest by proposing that every U.S. adult receive …
Hull asks to be first UK city to trial universal basic income
Hull wants to become the first UK city to test a weekly universal basic income for its residents after …
The Social Debate
Universal basic income is gaining ground in some cities
NEWARK, N.J. — Local leaders across the United States are turning to private donors to fund an out-of-the-box policy …
Is UBI in New York City’s future?
We’re down to single digits. Eight Democratic presidential candidates remain after three dropped out this week: Senator Michael Bennet …
Push for UBI continues on
Andrew Yang’s bid for the Democratic nomination is over, but supporters of his basic income policy say his campaign …
Andrew Yang is out – for now
Right up until the end, Andrew Yang held out hope that New Hampshire would give his underdog campaign the jolt it …
Social Justice
Humanity needs to make some drastic changes
Bad news, Earthlings: It may be possible for everyone on the planet to live a “good” life. It may …
NY Congressional Candidate Suraj Patel Running on Basic Income for Kids Under 18
Child poverty shames the United States. The richest country in the world counts one in five of its children …
Child Poverty is a Moral Tragedy
Nearly 1 in 5 American children is officially poor. That’s roughly 15 million kids. But the number living with …
Dave Chappelle shows support for Andrew Yang and universal basic income
AMES, Ia. — Dave Chappelle said in Iowa Tuesday that Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang is the first presidential candidate …
Success Stories
How UBI Affects People’s Lives: A Compilation of Experiences from Basic Income Recipients
“In my experience, there is no clearer understanding of the concept of unconditional basic income than among those who …
One Year on Andrew Yang’s UBI: How a N.H. Family Spent Their $12,000
How would an extra $12,000 a year change your lifestyle? Your life? The centerpiece of Andrew Yang’s presidential campaign …
Early Results from Stockton’s $500/mo Basic Income Pilot
Stockton, California gave money to random recipients from neighborhoods where the median annual income is $46,000 – no strings …
A photo update from 5 families receiving a basic income
In 2017, GiveDirectly launched a Universal Basic Income Program. As part of this program, we are running a randomized control …
The Basics of UBI
Universal basic income is about universal basic security
Imagine, for a moment, that the robots have won. The year is 2049—the same year researchers once pegged as …
We All Deserve An Income Floor: Why the Bold Policy of Basic Income Works
If guaranteed income is an attempt to provide people with more resources—resources that come with very few restrictions—it demands …
The Fall and Rise of the Basic Income Movement
Forty years ago today—February 7, 1980—was a small milestone for the Universal Basic Income (UBI) movement: Milton and Rose Friedman dedicated …
How a VAT could tax the rich and pay for universal basic income
The Congressional Budget Office just projected a series of $1 trillion budget deficits—as far as the eye can see. Narrowing …
Workforce Automation
Gig economy traps workers in precarious existence, says report
Far from providing flexible jobs for complex modern lives, gig economy companies, such as Uber and Deliveroo, increasingly trap workers in a …
The case against the flawed argument that automation is nothing to worry about
There are two general philosophical camps when considering the automated future: those who believe it will be a time …
How the Next Decade’s Technological Tsunami Will Change Life as We Know It
This time a decade ago, there was no such thing as an iPad. There were no food delivery meal …
More than 1.6 million secretarial and administrative-assistant jobs have vanished since 2000, an almost 40% decline
The Vanishing Executive Assistant Executive assistants once ran the office. Increasingly, the office runs without them. The decline of …