Scott Santens
Editor of Basic Income Today
EDITOR’S PICKS
Food banks across Canada are begging to be put out of business with basic income
Campaign asks Canadians to top up their donations by calling for basic income
Latest Articles
Housing those in need through a basic income
It has been shown to be an effective and immediate tool in reducing homelessness.
New findings from Sam Altman’s basic income study challenge one of the main arguments against the idea
Recipients valued work more after receiving no-strings-attached recurring monthly payments, challenging a long-held argument against such programs.
Tacoma guaranteed basic income pilot results released
Results of the GRIT pilot demonstrate that a modest, unrestricted cash investment can improve families’ financial stability, food security, well-being, and reduce poverty in our community.
Income Inequality
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.”
The Millionaires Who Want To Pay More Taxes
Despite being (very) rich, conscientious millionaires and billionaires are calling for much higher wealth taxes to combat the rising inequality they see as a threat to democracy.
Pope Francis says “without love, we are nothing” and Calls for a Universal Basic Income at World Meeting of Popular Movements
The Pope expressed hope that economically powerful individuals would come out of isolation, “reject the false security of money, and embrace the sharing of goods,” which he described as having a universal destiny, stemming from Creation itself.
Pilots & Experiments
University of Chicago study praises rollout of city’s guaranteed basic income pilot
The federal funds set aside to do community outreach ahead of the Chicago Resilient Communities pilot, which ended in 2023, could provide a road map for how the city serves residents, according to a recently released study.
UK to kind of, but not really, test basic income for unhoused people
Led by King’s College London, study will recruit 360 people in England and Wales to explore benefits of scheme
Seven political parties in Ireland commit to continued support for Basic Income for the Arts scheme
The seven parties that have published arts plans in their manifestos have committed to continuing and expanding the BIA in some form.
The Social Debate
Reimagining Conservation Post-Cop16: The Case for a Universal Basic Income
The global environmental crisis, manifesting in the accelerated loss of biodiversity, is exacerbated by deep socio-economic inequalities.
Rethinking Universal Basic Income: Economic Productivity, Quality of Life and the Sustainable Development Goals
Recent concern about the uncertain impacts of artificial intelligence has fueled renewed discussion of universal basic income (UBI).
Basic Income Grant coalition in Namibia protests conditional basic income grant
“We are not happy with what the government is doing right now: excluding a lot of people in the country who are not eligible for that Haraambe cash grant,” she said.
Success Stories
A UBI program in Florida hopes to keep people out of prison through direct payments. They say it’s changing lives
‘Hope goes a long way’: guaranteed income is a lifeline for ex-prisoners
An artist used his $500 monthly basic income to build his hip hop career: ‘It’s not feasible to create art in a place of distress.’
Tarli, 36, said cash payments helped him afford equipment for his hip hop career.
Nearly every basic income pilot studied has shown higher rates of employment
By PR Newswire See original post here. WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — More than one dozen academic studies have found
The Basics of UBI
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.
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
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.
Workforce Automation
Opinion: Why wait until the robots take our jobs? We need a basic income now
AI and tech developments are already pushing people into more precarious work, but UBI could cushion the transition
Vinod Khosla says universal basic income may be needed as AI takes over jobs and drives wealth disparity
Investor Vinod Khosla said universal basic income might be necessary as artificial intelligence takes on more of the work humans do.
AI risks destroying jobs. Tech leaders think they have the answer.
Some tech leaders are advocating for universal basic income to counteract AI-driven job automation.