Scott Santens
Editor of Basic Income Today
EDITOR’S PICKS
New Brunswick poverty reduction plan stops short of universal income support
The threat of a recession has prompted renewed calls for some kind of income support from labour and social justice groups.
Latest Articles
Most Americans can’t afford life anymore — and they just don’t matter to the economy like they once did
Burns tries to stretch every dollar to maximize their quality of life on the family’s limited income.
Can GiveDirectly Show the Value of Universal Basic Income?
GiveDirectly has delivered more than $800 million to over 1.6 million people, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. Now it is experimenting with, and learning from, cash payments to recipients in the United States.
Top 1 Percent Has Sapped $79T in Wealth From Bottom 90 Percent Since 1975
In 2023 alone, $3.9 trillion was sapped from the bottom 90 percent— enough to give every worker a $32,000 raise.
Income Inequality
Wealth inequality risks triggering ‘societal collapse’ within next decade, report finds
Growing wealth inequality in the UK could be a “major driver of societal collapse” within the next decade, according to a new report.
Why Income Inequality in America Is Hurting Collective Happiness
The people who would benefit the least from additional dollars have gained the most, while the people who would benefit the most from additional dollars have gained almost nothing.
We have extreme inequality in America, and it’s getting worse
“growing inequality breeds social resentment and generates political instability. It also fuels populist, protectionist, and anti-globalization sentiments.”
Pilots & Experiments
Montana legislators propose Work Protection Act to ban local guaranteed income programs
House Bill 604 represents a significant shift in how guaranteed income programs may be approached in Montana, emphasizing state control over local initiatives.
The future of an independent Cymru and potential of a Universal Basic Income
Some say Cymru can’t afford independence nor afford to adopt a Universal Basic Income. But neither is a unicorn dream and together they could end poverty
Cash for moms experiment expands in Michigan, where lawmakers see promise
A cash-assistance program for expectant moms and babies, which first began in Flint more than a year ago, is growing its reach to hundreds more families across Michigan.
The Social Debate
A basic income can be a strong investment in mental health
Over half of Canadians feel “financially paralyzed” by the cost-of-living crisis, according to a recent poll. As life becomes more unaffordable for more people, we need governments to create policies that will improve public health and well-being.
Guaranteeing basic income in Canada could cut poverty by 40% and cost only $3.6 billion: PBO
The PBO analysis says the number of hours worked by guaranteed income recipients could drop slightly — up to 1.4 per cent.
Elon Musk weighs $5k ‘dividends’ for Americans with DOGE savings he has yet to prove
Musk is already hinting at sharing Doge savings while nation is still massively in debt with Republicans planning a huge tax cut
Success Stories
Lawmakers look to expand California’s guaranteed income program
California started a $35 million guaranteed income program in 2023, giving people monthly checks for 12 to 18 months with no requirements on how to spend them. Now, some lawmakers are looking to find permanent funding for it.
Two cities tried basic income for formerly incarcerated people
Six hundred dollars a month was the boost some formerly incarcerated people needed to rent apartments, cover unexpected expenses, and land steady jobs.
UBI Taiwan’s single-parent basic income reaches a new ‘milestone’
UBI Taiwan hosted a press conference to spotlight the progress of its basic income pilot program for single-parent households.
The Basics of UBI
The Freedom From Want and Basic Income
Human beings are not game pieces. We are not theoretical abstractions. We are animals. And like all animals we have needs that must be met or we will suffer greatly and die.
Universal basic income: ‘The power to say no and the freedom to say yes’
Scott Santens is the founder and CEO of the U.S.-based Income to Support All (ITSA) Foundation, and has been researching and advocating for Universal Basic Income (UBI) since 2013.
Study Universal Basic Income at the University of Sydney
In 2025, the the School of Social and Political Sciences (SSPS) at the University of Sydney will offer the first unit of study focused on Universal Basic Income (UBI) to be taught at a university in Australasia.
Workforce Automation
Major Asia bank to cut 4,000 roles as AI replaces humans
Permanent staff are not affected by the cuts. The bank’s outgoing chief executive Piyush Gupta also said it expected to create around 1,000 new AI-related jobs.
Top AI Investor Says Goal is to Crash Human Wages
American billionaire investor casually proclaimed that AI must “crash” everyone’s wages before it can deliver us an economic utopia.
The UK plans to ‘unleash AI” to boost growth
The AI Opportunities Action Plan includes growth zones where development will be focused, and the technology will be used to help tackle issues such as potholes.