Author: Goenchi Mati

Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend is the most famous example of a Universal Basic Income. It is of course a sub-national, being a part of the USA. There are five nations that are giving a Universal Basic Income. Can you guess which ones? Interestingly, all are Asian. The five Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia and Iran: Singapore: Growth Dividends share part …

Here’s an article by Roberto A. Ferdman in The Washington Post about the remarkable impact of Basic Income. It discusses a study reported in NBER on a set of low income children in North Carolina, USA. “This was hugely important to the development of the children, to their wellbeing” said Akee. “And the effect wasn’t small either—it was actually fairly large.” “Not only did the extra …

Daniel Raventós writes in the Counterpunch on how skewed political power has become with the rise of the billionaires. Its impacts on US politics is clear for all the see. It is worth remembering that India’s inequality is considerably higher than the US, making the problem harder and more urgent.

Namibia has been running a Basic Income Grant pilot since 2008. The Namibian reports that the Cabinet will examine a proposal for a Basic Income Grant nationwide by 2025, quoting Namibia’s Minister for Poverty Alleviation, and Social Welfare, Zephania Kameeta.

BIEN has a great article by Stanislas Jourdan. The minister concerned has written a book on basic income, so he is likely to push for it. However, it may go in the direction of replacing social benefits.

Shailesh Gandhi makes important points in connection to the allocation of land in Maharashtra at a tiny fraction of the market value. “Property belonging to the State belongs to all citizens. All Indians pay taxes directly or indirectly. The rich often think since they pay more, they have greater rights. It is often forgotten that the real estate and lands of …

Minerals are only one part of Intergenerational Equity. Jean Pisani makes a persuasive argument that we are making our children worse off.

GF letter to Goa Govt & CEC on GMPF & DMF (5.2 MB) In the 2012 Goa mining case (WP 435 of 2012), the Supreme Court had ordered the setting up of a Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund on grounds of Intergenerational Equity and Sustainable Development. The Goa Government was tasked with formulating the scheme for the Permanent Fund in consultation …

Reform Scotland, a think tank in Scotland has proposed a Universal Basic Income. Andrew Whittaker has a nice article in The Scotsman

For the first time, the UK Parliament may debate a  Basic Income. You would expect Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell to support this.