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.

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:

Income Movement

Stanford Basic Income Lab

Universal Income Project

The Alaska Permanent Fund pays a partial Basic Income Guarantee to all Alaska residents funded from oil revenue.

Mayors for a Guaraneed Income

Fund for Humanity

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.

Map of Basic Income Projects

Journals & Essays

THE TOP 10 BASIC INCOME ARTICLES OF 2023, compiled by Scott Santens includes the following articles:

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”:

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

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

Inherent Good

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.

Stockton on My Mind

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.

It’s Basic

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.

Storming Caesar’s Palace

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)

RAISING THE FLOOR is 30 min film on the GI program in Chelsea, MA. is the moving narrative of a majority Latinx community coming together to feed neighbors and strangers during an unprecedented public health crisis. It is the inspiring story of a group of local leaders whose sense of helplessness and concern led to bold policy innovation.
The research findings from the Chelsea pilot offer lessons that resonate beyond one Massachusetts city and make a compelling case for reconsidering public policies around poverty and inequality in post-pandemic America.
They also have two different 10 min shorts – on the history of Basic Income – one in the civil rights, and one about Nixon’s administration almost passing a basic income, and how he reversed course.