'As more countries are facing a secular stagnation and as it is becoming clear that it is unrealistic to hope to increase total economic output (measured as the gross domestic product GDP) without further worsening the environmental crisis, a new question emerges: how can we make progress towards eradicating poverty without growth? While the Pact for the Future adopted on 23 September 2024 reaffirms the need to “urgently develop measures of progress on sustainable development that complement or go beyond GDP”, indicators alone, while useful, remain insufficient: what matters is the reorientation of the economy — of our ways of producing and consuming. 

The Special Rapporteur proposed a range of answers, which include strengthening the social and solidary economy, identifying new sources of financing for State services that do not depend on growth, better valuing care work and better aligning wages with the social utility of work. The overall objective should be to expand the toolbox of governments in the fight against poverty. This will allow to move beyond a grow-tax-transfer approach to poverty reduction (the dominant post-market model to combating poverty), to focus more on pre-market measures (including investing in early childhood education and care) and on market reforms (to make markets more inclusive). 

To read the full document, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/priorities-for-the-second-world-summit-for-social-development-2025/

'Photo by Amber Weir via Unsplash

Workshop Program: Designing a Basic Income Pilot for Australia – Ethics, Implementation & Evaluation Challenges

Location: Online (Zoom)
Date: Friday, December 6
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:15 PM

Overview:

Pilots, trials, and experiments have played a central role in establishing an evidence base for the potential benefits of basic income and similar concepts. While proponents of basic income often highlight the positive outcomes of these trials, critics question their effectiveness. The relationship between basic income and policy experimentation has been viewed as crucial for building public and political support for the reform, though some argue that it has been a distraction that has failed to deliver policy implementation.

In Australia, the debate around basic income pilots is still in its early stages compared to international efforts. Aside from a small-scale trial in the 1970s, there has never been a comprehensive basic income pilot, and very few detailed proposals have gained significant traction. The Third Annual Australian Basic Income Fellows Workshop seeks to move the conversation forward by focusing on the ethical, practical, and evaluation challenges involved in designing a basic income pilot for Australia.

To learn more and register, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/designing-a-basic-income-pilot-for-australia-2024-abi-fellows-workshop/

'When? Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 6:30-8:00 PM UK GMT

Where? Online (Zoom)

UBI Lab Arts, UBI Lab Leeds, UBI Lab Network and Basic Income Ireland present:

Please join us for the fifth in our special series of discussions dedicated to reflecting on what we can learn from the Irish Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme, as it unfolds. The Government of Ireland is running a Basic Income pilot that began in September 2022. 2000 artists and cultural workers will receive a weekly unconditional income of €325 weekly for a period of three years. This fifth session will be an opportunity to check-in with some of the artists involved in the pilot scheme and learn from them about how it is affecting them and their creative communities.

To learn more, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/basic-income-for-the-arts-in-ireland-what-have-we-learned-after-26-months/

'The Palestinian Economic Policy Institute in Ramallah had asked me to draw up a proposal for an Emergency Basic Income, which I presented in Ramallah earlier this year.

To access that paper, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/recovery-dividends-an-emergency-basic-income-for-palestine/

'Recent concern about the uncertain impacts of artificial intelligence has fueled renewed discussion of universal basic income (UBI). As in the past, much of the conversation depicts UBI as a policy expedient aimed at relieving the adverse effects (presumably inescapable and impending) of technological unemployment. We must, however, rethink the main purpose of UBI. It is a sound policy initiative quite independent of the technology question. By aligning with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UBI could be a global game-changer. Appreciating this, however, requires looking beyond growth in gross domestic product as the predominant indicator of economic progress.

To read the full article in the UN Chronicle, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/rethinking-universal-basic-income-economic-productivity-quality-of-life-and-the-sustainable-development-goals/

'The FRIBIS Annual Conference 2024 (7 – 9 October), held at the University of Freiburg, was titled “Towards the development of a full UBI? Perspectives on partial approaches in different welfare systems.” The conference brought together over 40 speakers and 79 registered participants, offering a hybrid format that enabled both in-person and online attendance via Zoom.

The conference was structured around three main themes: the first examining UBI as social security and its role in welfare systems, the second exploring the connection between basic income and ecological sustainability, and the third addressing international UBI models.

FRIBIS asked participants to share their personal impressions, asking questions like: Which debates have resonated most strongly? What new insights have emerged? Which questions remain unresolved? Answers to these and other questions, along with extensive photo documentation, can be found in a detailed conference report.

To read the report, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/fribis-anual-conference-report/

'This two-hour conversation with Dr. Karina Dotson and Dr. Elizabeth Rhodes will see the researchers behind the pioneering OpenResearch Unconditional Basic Income Pilot to present their initial results. This pilot was one of the largest UBI pilots to date and has generated significant media interest due to its scale, quality, and association with OpenAI Founder, Sam Altman. The pilot randomly assigned 1000 individuals to receive $1000 per month and 2000 individuals to receive $50 per month for three years. The study has involved multiple rounds of survey and in-depth qualitative research looking at impacts on work, wellbeing, health, education, and more. The session will combine an extended presentation and ample time for questions.

When? 3pm UK Time, Weds Nov 13th

For the Zoom link click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/zoom-openresearch-unconditional-cash-study-research-insights-and-early-learnings/

'UBI4ALL, a pioneering organization committed to advancing the concept of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) worldwide, is excited to announce its 7th Basic Income raffle.

On November 24, 2024, UBI4ALL will award a life-changing €9,600 per year (€800 per month) to a lucky winner, expanding its reach beyond borders to empower individuals with financial stability. With this global expansion, UBI4ALL looks forward to announcing even more exciting developments in its upcoming LIVE raffle.

To read the press release, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/ubi4alls-7th-basic-income-raffle-november-24/

UBI in the Heartlands of Neoliberalism published by openDemocracy

Part 1 | Getting on with it

​

• UBI in the US ‘not just an idea’ – it’s achievable

Shafeka Hasash, Economic Security Project

• ‘Hope goes a long way’: BI as a lifeline for ex-prisoners

Kevin Scott, Community Spring

• Could a guaranteed income pave the way for racial justice?

Rachel Pyon, Deon Hodrick and Matthew Harvey, Equity and Transformation

• Direct cash transfers ‘could halve child poverty’ in Oregon

Antonio Gisbert, Oregon Rebate

• What can end the suffering of Black mothers and children in the US?
• Zea Malawa, University of California, Berkeley Public Health

Part 2 | Widening the politically possible

​

• UBI could mean justice for everyone. How do we get there?

Philippe Van Parijs, UCLouvain

• Basic income ‘won’t stop people working’: lessons from Canada
• Ben Earle and Sheila Regehr, Basic Income Canada Network
• Basic income could put food banks out of business
• David Beck, University of Salford and UBILab Food
• Basic income: why we need to start talking about money
• Cleo Goodman, Autonomy and the Basic Income Conversation
• Can cities do what national governments won’t on basic income?

Leandro Ferreira, Brazilian Basic Income Network

Part 3 | Getting the policy mix right

​

• It’s time for a welfare revolution in the UK

Vibhor Mathur, University of Bath

• Put the whole government to work rebuilding Britain

Matthew Johnson, Elliot Johnson and Kate Pickett, Northumbria University and University of York

• Does Labour dare to renew the welfare state?

Cleo Goodman, Autonomy

• Will Scotland be the first to guarantee a minimum income?

Ruth Boyle and David Eyre, Poverty Alliance

• Sustainable welfare for a sustainable planet

Nicholas Langridge and Milena Büchs, University of Bath and University of Leeds

• From dogma to data: a centrist case for pragmatic welfare reform

David Westlake, Cardiff University

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/special-series-of-publications-on-ubi-in-neoliberal-times/

'Dr. Sarath Davala, Lee Seng Kiat, Prof. Geoffrey and John Michael, Asia-Pacific Hub Manager for BIEN, have joined a Radio show to discuss ‘Can Malaysia implement a UBI’ in the show called Beyond the Ballot Box by Journalist Dashran Yohan.

To listen to the podcast, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/can-malaysia-implement-universal-basic-income/

'Photo by Anastasiia Chepinska on Unsplash

Abstract: This short paper reflects on the key lessons we can learn from the political debate around and policy experimentation with (emergency) basic income schemes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic crisis initially seems to have opened up a policy window for introducing a basic income as a crisis instrument, theoretical arguments and empirical observations strongly suggest the reliance of some basic income advocates on crisis events, such as the pandemic, to push forward their policy ideas involves wishful thinking rather than political reality. A feasible roadmap towards introducing basic income requires the hard work of raising public awareness, constructing broad constituencies, and building robust political coalitions rather than waiting for the next crisis to come around the corner.

To read the full paper, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/11/basic-income-in-crisis-hard-lessons-from-the-pandemic/

'Washington, DC, October 25, 2024 – The Income To Support All Foundation (ITSA), founded by globally renowned Universal Basic Income (UBI) expert Scott Santens, is proud to announce the successful completion of its $1.5 million fundraising goal for 2024. This milestone was achieved through a generous $500,000 grant and a matching $500,000 donation contingent upon raising an additional $500,000, which was accomplished with smaller grants from mission-aligned nonprofits and the help of individual supporters.

Approaching its third year of operation, ITSA Foundation remains committed to its mission “to support ambitious projects that help realize a foundation of unconditional universal basic income (UBI) through research, storytelling, and implementation.” After raising $53,000 in its first year, the Foundation’s success in hitting this year’s ambitious fundraising goal reflects remarkable growth in both reach and fundraising capacity.

To read the full press release, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/income-to-support-all-foundation-reaches-1-5-million-fundraising-goal/

'An International Memorandum “Basic income as a necessary component of a socio-ecological transformation and key element for climate justice” has been signed by BIEN.

At its General Assembly in Bath, UK, BIEN decided to sign the International Memorandum “Basic income as a necessary component of a socio-ecological transformation and key element for climate justice”.

The Memorandum, meanwhile signed by 39 Organizations and Initiatives and 47 academics and activists worldwide, was sent to the Club of Rome and will be sent to different UN-Organizations and Representatives. 

To read the memorandum in English, click here.

To read the memorandum in German, click here.

To read the memorandum in Spanish, click here.

To read the memorandum in French, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/basic-income-as-a-necessary-component-of-a-socio-ecological-transformation-and-key-element-for-climate-justice/

'Buford Farris, a stalwart of the basic income movement, died peacefully at aged 98 in Austin, Texas on October 5, 2024. His work was important in keeping the movement for a basic income guarantee alive during the difficult days in the late twentieth century and in building the movement again in the early years of the U.S. Basic Income Guarantee Network.

To read more click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/stalwart-of-the-basic-income-movement-buford-farris-has-died-at-98/

'Social protection schemes should be implemented to
the fullest extent possible, without excessive targeting or
conditionalities. Universal basic income schemes should be
seriously considered, and pilots carefully evaluated, given their
role in providing economic security and predictability.

Read the full two-page summary report by clicking here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/the-burnout-economy-poverty-and-mental-health-summary-report/

'Photo: Skorzewiak/shutterstock.com

Recent UBI trials reveal that guaranteed income provides immediate mental health relief, but sustaining long-term benefits may depend on lasting economic security.

Interest is surging in the idea of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) – a regular income paid by the government to each adult member of society, regardless of their personal or financial circumstances. But can it achieve its stated goals of reducing poverty, improving working conditions and increasing well-being? Thanks to a global flurry of pilot programmes putting these claims to the test, answers to this question are starting to trickle in.

To read the full article, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/can-universal-basic-income-really-improve-mental-health/

'A universal basic income (UBI) is a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all individuals, without means testing or work requirements. Today, a broad variety of ideas surrounding the topic of UBI circulate globally, leading to debates, suggestions, and experimentation, but not to the implementation of what is seen as a “full UBI.” Instead, basic income proposals differ among many dimensions, goals, and localities. Since the early 2000s, a curious trend can be observed in the Global South in this context: With the rise of conditional cash transfers (CCTs), the focus on conditionalities and targeting as development and poverty reduction tools has significantly influenced possible dealings with UBI ideas. But UBI scholars and advocates have influenced the CCT discourse likewise, for example, through the BIG grant in Namibia, the initiative of GiveDirectly in Kenya, the UBI pilot in Madhya Pradesh, India, or the intermingling of UBI advocacy with the social protection program Bolsa Familia in Brazil.

This winter school explores the multifaceted topic of UBI in the context of the Global South, providing an overview of the specific contexts, challenges, and outcomes of UBI pilots and experiments, as well as related and inspired policies and initiatives. It will explore the political and ethical considerations surrounding the debates on UBI in countries of the Global South, including the topics of social rights, equity, and the role of government intervention. Through a variety of case studies, it aims to create a critical understanding of the potential and limitations of UBI as a tool for social and economic transformation in so-called ‘developing countries.’

Attendance is free and can participation is welcome in person and online. Please register here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/new-ubi-bath-winter-school-basic-income-in-the-global-south/

'This two-hour conversation with Dr. Karina Dotson and Dr. Elizabeth Rhodes will see the researchers behind the pioneering OpenResearch Unconditional Basic Income Pilot to present their initial results. This pilot was one of the largest UBI pilots to date and has generated significant media interest due to its scale, quality, and association with OpenAI Founder, Sam Altman. The pilot randomly assigned 1000 individuals to receive $1000 per month and 2000 individuals to receive $50 per month for three years. The study has involved multiple rounds of survey and in-depth qualitative research looking at impacts on work, wellbeing, health, education, and more. The session will combine an extended presentation and ample time for questions.

When? 3pm UK Time, Weds Nov 13th

Where: For the Zoom link, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/openresearch-unconditional-cash-study-research-insights-and-early-learnings/

'“Building on previous experience in Uganda, the Belgian organisation Eight World vzw started in October 2021, an Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) pilot project in a village in an artisanal mining zone in the territory of Pangi, in Maniema province, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Eight World transfers cash directly to individual beneficiaries via a mobile money system. Each adult living in the UCT village received 20 USD per month via her/his phone, for two years, and each child in the village received monthly 10 USD during the same period. The beneficiaries were free to decide how to spend the money, not constrained by pre-specified requirements.”

To read the report, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/report-on-unconditional-cash-transfers-pilot-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/

'Increasing calls for reform to welfare provision have seen growing support for basic income (BI) – the unconditional provision of cash transfers to all. As a result, recent years have seen an exponential increase in the number of pilot experiments of BI, across all parts of the world. However, to date, there has been little discussion of the ethical considerations of such experiments. This paper is the outcome of a workshop whereby BI piloters came together to discuss such ethical considerations, share case studies, and begin to formulate general principles to guide ethical BI experiments. The paper discusses the ethical considerations relevant to the various stages of a pilot experiment and concludes with some general principles: to do-no-harm, maintain respect, dignity, and agency; mitigate power inequalities, promote trust and transparency, and ensure substantive unconditionality. The paper hopes to stimulate discussions towards an ethical protocol for better practice in BI experiments and provide a useful resource to those working on, or interested in, BI research.

To read the report click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/new-report-on-the-ethics-of-basic-income-piloting/

'In the first first episode of Response Cast, the host, Paulo Sodré, is joined by Jurgen De Wispelaere, a Belgian political theorist turned public policy scholar, specializing in the political economy of UBI. He’s a Visiting Fellow at the University of Bath (UK) and the Research Coordinator of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN). Jurgen is deeply involved in UBI research, including initiatives in Brazil, and has published extensively on the subject. He also leads the UBIdata project. But most importantly, he brings a unique blend of insight and humor to the conversation, making complex topics not just understandable but truly fascinating – as you will soon find out!

In this episode, we dive into:

• What UBI really means and the debates around its impacts,

• Jurgen’s journey into the world of UBI and how his views have evolved over time,

• Real-world UBI initiatives, like the case of Maricá, in Brazil.

Listen to the podcast at Spotify & Apple Podcasts'

​

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/10/new-podcast-features-an-episode-on-ubi/

'Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst on Unsplash

Olivier De Schutter, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, sent me his most recent report (attached). As you will see, §§ 54-57 contain a strong plea for UBI.

To view the report, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/09/new-un-report-calls-for-ubi/

'The FRIBIS Annual Conference 2024 will take place from October 7 to 9. It will
explore partial basic income models and their integration into existing welfare state
systems. The goal is to identify practical approaches to advance the political
feasibility of an unconditional basic income. The conference will focus on topics such
as social security, sustainability and international perspectives. It will also consider
whether partial models can lead to a comprehensive basic income as well as the
insights that can be drawn from previous pilot projects.
Registration is now open. The event will be held both face-to-face in Freiburg and
online in a hybrid format. The preliminary program is available on the  conference
website .
Detailed information about the keynotes by Prof. Alexander Spermann, Prof.
Bernhard Neumärker, Prof. Fabio Waltenberg and Prof. Jörg Althammer is provided
below.
More information can be found here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/09/registration-now-open-for-the-fribis-annual-conference-2024/

'Project DEEP, incorporated in 2023, is the only organization in India implementing unconditional and direct cash transfers for poverty relief. DEEP’s mission is to transfer money directly to people, so that they can carve their own path towards prosperity.

Compelling global evidence demonstrates that this is an effective and scalable model of development. And the recent government movement towards cash transfer programs in India suggest that it is growing to be a preferred tool of social and economic policy.

DEEP aims to build a centre of excellence to spur innovation and build a strong narrative in the space of cash transfers. For this DEEP is building local evidence through program implementation, forming a community of practice to experiment new ideas with peers, and engaging with policy influencers to further strengthen welfare systems.

To read DEEP’s Annual Assessment of its work, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/09/project-deep-report-on-cash-transfers-in-india/

'A recent study published in Basic Income Studies, “Exploring young people’s attitudes towards basic income”, has found that a large proportion of young people in the Basque Country are supportive of Basic Income (UBI) as a policy that could address pressing social and economic challenges. The research surveyed over 1,200 individuals aged between 18 and 35, revealing that 68% of respondents are in favour of UBI, with many seeing it as a potential solution to growing job insecurity and economic instability.

To read the full press release on the study, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/09/new-study-reveals-strong-interest-in-basic-income-among-young-people-in-the-basque-country/

'At its most recent congress, BIEN launched UBIdata, an innovative new tool with a mission to match reliable information about basic income with a rapidly growing global user base of individuals and organisations eager to learn more.

UBIdata gathers, processes and displays data about basic income pilots and experiments, survey and micro-simulations, political and media debates, and the development of grassroots organisations and networks. When completed, UBIdata will feature different interfaces and tools for interested audiences to engage with available information to meet their diverse needs and demands.

UBIdata is an ambitious project which is currently in its prototype starting phase. The current beta-version focuses on collecting and disseminating key data of a small selection of pilots and experiments in six countries. In its starting phase, the goal is to demonstrate and test the utility and user experience of the project on a small scale. 

You can get involved and support us by sharing UBIdata with your networks, by trying out the tool, and by providing feedback at contact@ubidata.io. Your input and suggestions are vital for making UBIdata a helpful tool for everyone interested in the basic income idea.
Visit us at http://ubidata.io.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/09/ubidata-data-for-basic-income-research-and-policy/

'On September 24th at 6pm EST Equal Right, in collaboration with the Cap and Share Climate Alliance (CASCA), will be hosting an event as part of NYC Climate Week 2024 titled ‘How can Universal Basic Income Aid a Just Transition?’

The event will take place at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College (2180 3rd Ave), and it would be great to have you there (in person or virtually, via Zoom).

Full details of the event, including ticket registration, can be found here. 

If you’re able, we’d also really appreciate any help you can offer to promote the event, including doing any of the following:

Quote share this tweet (suggested quote: ‘@EqualRightOrg are hosting this event on UBI and Just Transition as part of NYC Climate Week –  check it out if you can! 

Repose this LinkedIn post with your thoughts.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/09/how-can-universal-basic-income-aid-a-just-transition/

'Below you will find links to folders of photographs I took at the 2024 BIEN Congress held at the University of Bath on August 29-31. Not all sessions are covered.

2024-08-29 BIEN Congress Day 1

2024-08-29 BIEN Congress Day 2

2024-08-29 BIEN Congress Day 3

Click on the links to view and download the photos that are all in .jpg format and under 10 MB in size.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/09/photos-from-all-three-days-of-the-2024-bien-congress/

'Below you will find the full text of Eduardo Matarazzo Suplicy’s planned address at the closing ceremony of 2024 BIEN Congress at the University of Bath, UK, on August 31, 2024. He was conscious that he had to respect the ten-minute time limit set by the organization of the Congress for his oral exposition, but for the record he considered that it would important to provide a fuller account of the long journey toward making UBI a reality in Brazil, where the 2025 Congress will be held.

To read the full text, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/09/eduardo-suplicys-speech-at-the-closing-ceremony-2024-bien-congress/

'To view and download 49 Photos, click here.'

From: https://basicincome.org/news/2024/08/photos-from-day-1-of-bath-congress/