This page contains links to websites with information about BIG. The pages differ considerably in their point of view. Some promote a BIG, some promote it as part of a larger strategy; some promote variations on the idea; some oppose it altogether. The fact that these websites are listed here is not considered a recommendation of their program, simply a location to find information. Additional links and discussion may be found in the USBIG Newsletters and on our About Us page.
Organizations
International Groups
THE BASIC INCOME EARTH NETWORK (BIEN) is an international organization for sharing BIG information. BIEN maintains an extensive website, publishes a newsletter, and organizes conferences promoting basic income around the world. It recognizes many National and Regional Affiliates around the world, including USBIG.
GLOBAL BASIC INCOME FOUNDATION maintains a list of basic income organizations around the world.
WORLD CITIZENS ACTION supports a plan for a Basic Income for all funded by the United Nations. Contact: Lisinka Ulatowska.
US Groups
US Basic Income websites include:
The Alaska Permanent Fund pays a partial Basic Income Guarantee to all Alaska residents funded from oil revenue.
Basic Income Programs around the U.S. & Globally
A map of active and concluded basic income experiments in the US and globally. This map was created by Stanford Basic Income Lab and supported by The Guaranteed Income Community of Practice.
Journals & Essays
THE TOP 10 BASIC INCOME ARTICLES OF 2023, compiled by Scott Santens includes the following articles:
- 10) Why Friedman’s free market needs basic income by Joshua Preiss
- 9) Will Basic Income Cause Rent to Increase? by Karl Widerquist
- 8) One Way to Help Prevent Child Abuse? Give Parents Cash by Lindsey Rose Bullinger
- 7) A Basic Income for Everybody: Why the Musicians’ Union Backs UBI by Neil Churchman
- 6) Artificial Intelligence Can’t Work Without Our Data by Barath Raghavan and Bruce Schneier
- 5) The Evidence for Basic Income is Now Sufficient by Guy Standing
- 4) Every U.S. city testing free money programs by Chase DiBenedetto
- 3) It’s one of the biggest experiments in fighting global poverty. Now the results are in by Nurith Aizenman
- 2) Why Does Everyone Feel So Insecure All the Time? by Astra Taylor
- 1) Mandatory Participation on Trial by Karl Widerquist
BOSTON REVIEW – Yes, Freedom! by Phillipe von Parijs
BASIC INCOME STUDIES – A Survey of Universal Basic Income Experiments by Rachael Hochman, Charles Larkin and Shaen Corbet
IN THE THE ATLANTIC – Before AI Takes Over, Make Plans to Give Everyone Money – An article by Annie Lowry
Websites
WIKIPEDIA ENTRY ON BASIC INCOME: The free, on-line encyclopedia written by its readers contains a short article on basic income, some of which seems to be taken from the USBIG site.
Basic Income Today is an aggregate database of articles mentioning and relating to basic income.
Progress.org promotes using land taxes to support a universal basic income guarantee.
SOCIAL CREDIT AND NATIONAL DIVIDEND: Social Credit is a comprehensive economic proposal that includes a basic income under the name of the National Dividend. The Social Credit movement promotes a national dividend as part of its wider policy for monetary and fiscal reform, and has its origins in Alberta in the 1920s. There are several sites on the web promoting “Social Credit”:
- Social Credit School of Studies: http://www.ecn.net.au/~socred/
- Social Credit in the UK: http://www.douglassocialcredit.com/
- List serve discussing Social Credit on Topica.com, contact: william_b_ryan@oneboxl.com
- http://www.globaljusticemovement.org
- http://www.globaljusticemovement.net/
- http://www.cesj.org
FAIRTAX.ORG endorses a BIG as part of an overall reform of the tax system.
SCOTT SANTENS is a writer and a promoter of basic income for all. This website includes links to his articles, press releases, and media appearances.
Interviews
KARL WIDERQUIST’S INTERVIEW WITH CHANGE SURFER RADIO:
http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=7190. Dr J. Hughes interviewed Dr. Widerquist for 40 minutes about his proposal for all citizens to receive a guaranteed income from the government
CAROL PATEMAN’S INTRODUCTION TO BIG ON WEB:
Titled “The Equivalent of the Right to Land, Life, and Liberty? Democracy and the Idea of a Basic Income”, Carole Pateman, a professor of Political Science at UCLA introduces Basic Income in a 50-minute lecture. After the first 10 minutes of introduction it is a three-part lecture on 1) What is a BIG, 2) What are its advantages, and 3) What are the current criticisms. It is simple enough for newcomers to the subject. The lecture is available in both streaming audio and streaming video at: http://www.oid.ucla.edu/webcast/frl.
INTERVIEW WITH GÖTZ WERNER, IN ENGLISH: One of the numerous interviews with Götz Werner, currently the most prominent advocate of basic income in Germany.
INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL HOWARD:
“Interviews on Basic Income for Wide Angle television-Episode 29”
(with extra content) “Interviews on Basic Income for Wide Angle television-Episode 29-Extra”
Reports
Income Movement Toolkit & Reports The Pilot Community Engagement Program by Income Movement includes Reports and Best Practices documents from the broader pilot community, resources highlighted to help with basic income education and engagement and activities and events designed by Income Movement to support deeper community engagement across all groups to achieve specific goals.
Videos
USBIG has a YouTube page, with all videos featured on this page included, as well as new videos. We welcome your comments on these videos and if you are interested in becoming a social media volunteer for this page, please contact us. UBI is in the news all the time now and there is a lot of information out there to comb through.
Why the U.S. Should Provide Universal Basic Income
America is the richest civilization in history. Why, then, are our living standards so low compared to those of other wealthy democracies?
“There’s a big idea out there that could help solve this, ” says The Atlantic writer Annie Lowrey. “It’s called a universal basic income, ” In a new animated video, Lowrey argues that UBI–a concept that has existed for more than 500 years–would help close the income inequality gap, eliminating poverty and increasing mobility and opportunity for all American citizens.
Read more about UBI in Lowrey’s book, Give People Money—How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake the World. Borrow on Libby or Purchase.
Basic Income Visuals (YouTube)
This series includes conversations with the late economist Milton Friedman. the 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang. and many others. Visit Basic Income Visuals
What is a Basic Income?
Video & Audio Series on Basic Income (YouTube)
Joerg Drescher has compiled a video and audio series on Basic Income and posted it on YouTube. Some of the entries interviews are conducted by Drescher. Others are from video archives. The series includes discussion of basic income by former Alaska Governor Jay Hamond, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Guy Standing, Karl Widerquist, John Tomlinson, Senator Eduardo Suplicy, and others. Watch the series playlist
Universal Basic Income Explained – Free Money for Everybody? UBI
This 10-minute introductory video to basic income by Kurzgesagt is an effective, straightforward exploration into the philosophy, impact, and value of implementing a universal basic income for their citizens. If you know nothing about basic income, this is a great place to start.
Global Ethics Corner Slideshow (YouTube)
Can basic income grants work for those living in extreme poverty? Or are grants discouraging people from taking individual responsibility? This Global Ethics Corner slideshow is based on the Namibian pilot project. It is part of a weekly series from the Carnegie Council:
Films
This 60-minute documentary introduces the increasingly popular grassroots policy, Universal Basic Income (UBI), as a vehicle to transform the American economy into one that is thriving, sustainable, and centered around the well-being of all people. The film examines UBI through diverse stories of perseverance from heartland Americans and firsthand accounts from participants in a groundbreaking basic income pilot program launched in Jackson, MS for Black mothers living in poverty.
As the mayor of Stockton, CA, Michael Tubbs’ experience growing up amid poverty and violence inspired him to create innovative change in his beleaguered hometown, including launching the first guaranteed basic income pilots led by a mayor. This film follows the millennial mayor as he fights to reverse the fortunes of a city known as one of the poorest, most violent, and least literate in the nation.
Our feature-length documentary, “It’s Basic,” looks at several pilot programs launched in the US that test the effects of giving everyday people an extra $500 to $1,000 monthly, with no strings attached. Directed by Marc Levin and executive produced by Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) Founder Michael Tubbs, the film explores the power of cash, the importance of dignity, and the ongoing work of providing an income floor through the eyes of guaranteed income recipients who have witnessed firsthand the life-altering effects of financial stability.
With insights by MGI movement leaders-Mayors Melvin Carter (Saint Paul, MN), and Sumbul Siddiqui (Cambridge, MA), shedding light on the pivotal role of local leadership in creating a more just and equitable society the real-life challenges of trying to get by on a daily basis are at the heart of the film.
“It’s Basic” is a must-see for anyone who cares about poverty, inequality, and the future of work. The film is an eye-opening look at the power of cash to transform lives and communities. It is a powerful call to action for policymakers to invest in guaranteed income to build a more just and equitable society.
Goes into the history of black women in the 60s and 70s in pushing the fight for a basic income within the civil rights and welfare reform movements. (Available on PBS)