Scott Santens
Editor of Basic Income Today
EDITOR’S PICKS
Georgia gave low-income Black women $20,000 over 2 years. A participant said the money helped her afford day care and pay bills.
Georgia’s basic income pilot helped low-income Black women afford bills and pay down debt.
Latest Articles
Is universal basic income about to transform society?
The concept of a guaranteed income is gaining traction as a solution to the impact of AI and way to encourage more rewarding and socially valuable work
Anthropic CEO says a universal basic income isn’t enough to address AI job losses
“If the technology goes fast, we’ll have to figure it out fast”
San Francisco’s basic income program for trans people to end after cuts, conservative lawsuits
Program gave $1,200 a month to 55 low-income trans residents
Income Inequality
Opinion: The overlooked potential of basic income in addressing socio economic crises
there is no permanent or decent income stream that will enable people to eat, supply customers to shops and traders, and thus no suppliers for factories to sell to.
Opinion: Rentier Capitalism, the Precariat and Basic Income for China
A class can be defined in terms of three dimensions – distinctive relations of production, distinctive relations of distribution and distinctive relations to the state.
47% of parents financially support their adult children with an average of $1,384 a month
Nearly half of parents with a child older than 18 provide them with at least some financial support, according to a recent report.
For parents, however, supporting grown children can be a substantial drain at a time when their own retirement security is at risk.
Pilots & Experiments
Arts Organizations Launch Petition to Extend Basic Income Scheme in Ireland
Pilot scheme due to end in 2025; extension of the scheme raised in the Seanad.
Pomona launches basic income pilot program
Through a lottery, the Pomona Household Universal Grant Program (HUG) will choose 600 eligible residents and assign them to two groups — a paid group and a control group.
Philly Joy Bank launches guaranteed basic income program for pregnant Philadelphians
The guaranteed income pilot program is modeled off of similar programs in Canada, San Francisco and New York City.
The Social Debate
B.C. Greens to back guaranteed basic income, says party leader
Sonia Furstenau says Greens still debating details of party election platform, but basic income proposal likely to target three vulnerable groups.
Victoria councilors vote to further explore the benefits of Universal Basic Income
The Union of BC Municipalities will bring the debate on UBI to its annual general meeting with the support of Victoria city councillors.
South Africa’s cash giveaway plan is not universal basic income, experts say
A South African policy proposal is being hailed as the first national universal basic income plan.
Success Stories
What would you do if the state gave you an extra $500 a month? 150 San Diegans got a chance to find out
San Diego’s pilot was one of more than 30 such programs unfolding roughly in parallel across the nation.
How St. Paul’s guaranteed-income pilot program helped my family
Mothers and children benefit greatly from the stability provided by these initiatives — which are expanding across the Twin Cities region.
Denver Basic Income Project gave homeless people cash and saved taxpayers almost $600,000 in the process, report says
First-year study shows more stable housing, decreased use of emergency services among recipients
The Basics of UBI
Exploring Universal Basic Income and Its Implementation
In recent years, economic inequality has increased along with housing costs, inflation and mass layoffs, all of which have significantly impacted the economic well-being of individuals worldwide.
The Deep and Enduring History of Universal Basic Income
While the concept stretches back centuries, it has garnered significant attention in recent decades.
The health case for basic income
Can a universal benefit address poverty, reduce inequality and promote public health?
Workforce Automation
Cheap AI voice clones may wipe out jobs of 5,000 Australian actors
Industry group says rise of vocal technology could upend many creative fields, including audiobooks – the canary in the coalmine for voice actors
IMF warns of ‘profound concerns’ over rising inequality from AI
Fund says governments should do more to protect their economies in face of massive potential labour disruptions
AI took their jobs. Now they get paid to make it sound human
If you’re worried about how AI will affect your job, the world of copywriters may offer a glimpse of the future.