Carbon Dividends on the agenda at the BIG Conference
In the run up to the Basic Income Guarantee conference on July 23, Mike Sandler and Michael Howard exchange views on the viability, adequacy and equity of per-capita carbon dividends.
Basic Income Group
Many Feasta members are advocates and activists for universal basic income, and in 2018, Feasta formed a Basic Income group.
Universal Basic Income is the proposal that the state (or the EU or other governmental body) should make a regular payment to every individual resident regardless of circumstances, without any means test or work requirement. It would be enough to live a frugal but decent life without additional income.
Group members also believe it vital that a basic income should be combined with a ‘social wage’, which consists of services that reduce the cost of living. These include Universal Basic Services which the government provides from public funds, such as healthcare, education, childcare, adult care, legal services and public transport. Social wage also includes access to public goods such as parks, libraries, leisure facilities, galleries and museums.
This Feasta group is particularly focussed on the role that basic income could play in achieving a sustainable society and economy, both in Ireland and globally.
In our research and advocacy we frequently draw on the work of Basic Income Ireland, Social Justice Ireland and international networks such as BIEN. We also work closely with Equal Right.
The 2022 Feasta discussion paper “Land, labour, housing, money, farms: moving the goalposts of Irish agriculture” incorporates a proposed UBI costing for Ireland which would provide an income of €250 per month to every adult Irish State resident via modest increases in income tax (with those earning less than approximately €40000 a year gaining financially). This costing was developed by two members of Basic Income Ireland, David Quinn and John Baker, who both participated in a video panel discussion on the paper.
Below you can see a range of articles and presentations on basic income, produced by our group members.
Bank Failures and the Debt Ceiling: A Double Teachable Moment for Ecological Monetary Theory
'On his recent visit to Ireland, President Biden said he felt like he was “home.” By giving a speech like President Higgins just gave, and setting up an Ecological Monetary Reform Study Committee, he could prove it,' writes Mike Sandler.
Universal Basic Income – the time has come
Feasta co-hosted two webinars on May 10 and May 17, at noon EST/5pm GMT, which explored the experience and the imperative of instituting a Universal Basic Income (UBI) for all people.
Basic Income and health in Ireland
This paper by Dr Elizabeth Cullen draws on research to explore how basic income could improve the health and well-being of all Irish people, including the most vulnerable.
Thomas Paine’s 1797 call for a Basic Income: a new paper tells the full story
"With the Covid-19 crisis, calls for a basic income are gaining new momentum. The U.S., and other countries too, could enjoy the immense society-wide benefit of a Basic Income if they are willing to set aside the sour grapes argument...of not providing a social safety net to out-groups," writes Brent Ranalli.
Podcast: Basic Income and the global pandemic struggle
Seán Ó'Conlaín and Caroline Whyte interview Dr Evelyn Forget, who describes the social and health effects of a basic income trial carried out in Canada in the 1970s. Then Paul Harnett and Laura Bannister make a case for a World Basic Income that would go to everyone on the planet, as a way to help counter the COVID-19 outbreak.
