Basic Income Earth

It’s happening! The countdown to the 2026 BIEN Congress, landing in Philadelphia 27–29 July, has officially begun.

An article in The University Times highlights how Ireland’s scheme, offering €325/week, gives emerging writers financial stability, time, and the confidence to pursue their craft. Beyond income, it enables experimentation, well-being, and creativity. zurl.co/PZcxk

Listen to a BBC podcast featuring BIEN’s Catarina Neves and Jurgen De Wispelaere highlighting key drivers- rising AI disruption, new pilot programs, and growing global policy interest. zurl.co/MMOYh

Salem’s $500/month guaranteed income pilot shows strong community impact. The “Uplift Salem” program provided unconditional cash to 100 residents; participants reported improved financial stability, reduced stress, and better ability to meet basic needs. zurl.co/ZQONK

Basic income debates today reflect a much older idea. An analysis in The Conversation traces UBI back to 18th-century England, where early proposals aimed to compensate people after shared resources were enclosed and privatised. zurl.co/jxjuo

A conservation basic income involves making regular, no-strings payments to people living in important conservation areas. The payments would enable local conservation efforts and help communities protect their land rather than sell or exploit it. zurl.co/AWJb2

What is Universal Basic Income, and why is it gaining attention? A Harvard explainer breaks it down as a regular, unconditional cash payment to all, designed to provide a basic level of economic security and simplify social protection systems. zurl.co/v3svI

As the risk of job displacement rises, what happens if new work doesn’t replace what’s lost? This piece revisits Universal Basic Income as a policy grounded in ideas like land value taxation and financial transaction taxes to fund a “citizen’s dividend.” zurl.co/7i4cC

On March 31st, 2026, an artist, a politician and a Basic Income activist from "Netzwerk Grundeinkommen" (network BI) will talk about a motion to bring basic income for artists in Germany. Join the debate as our BIEN EC member, Olaf Michael Ostertag, hosts the event.

A pilot in the U.S. is providing $1,000/month in unconditional cash to workers impacted by AI-driven job disruption. “AI Dividend” program targets individuals facing income loss due to automation, exploring how direct cash support can help workers adapt. zurl.co/1cWTX

A U.S. guaranteed income program that has supported nearly 4,000 pregnant women is expanding to Portland. The initiative provides unrestricted cash during pregnancy and early childhood, including a prenatal stipend and monthly payments for up to 3 years.zurl.co/QPqxw

Richard Nixon’s proposed Family Assistance Plan was an early form of guaranteed income for families with children. The plan would have provided a minimum income floor with work requirements, aiming to reduce poverty while encouraging employment. zurl.co/1Tvwk

Research from CLASP finds that guaranteed income programs help families meet basic needs and improve economic well-being. Across multiple pilots, regular, unconditional cash has been linked to better financial stability, health outcomes, and security. zurl.co/DkDlt

Irish inshore fishermen are calling for a basic income-style support and a climate compensation fund to offset income losses from quota cuts and environmental pressures that threaten livelihoods and the viability of small-scale fishing communities. zurl.co/R3rBV

A Rural Basic Income Promotion Coalition has been launched in South Korea’s Gyeongnam region. The coalition, made up of farmers and fishers groups, is calling for rural basic income pilots to be institutionalised and expanded nationwide. zurl.co/NV40L

Tomorrow, March 18th, @ 6 PM ET, live from New York City. Watch on the 2WAY platform & YouTube a discussion on automation nation, AI, Jobs, and the Case for UBI zurl.co/tMSJ8

In Scott Santens' latest article, he states that modern wealth and productivity, especially from technology and AI, are built collectively over generations, and UBI would distribute a share of those gains to all, ensuring everyone benefits. zurl.co/Fsk2O

Drawing on evidence from Ireland’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot, the performers’ union Equity is calling for Scotland to pilot a Basic Income for Artists ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections. The proposal would address unstable incomes in the sector. zurl.co/GzDZw

Michael Tubbs, founder of the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income coalition, has defended guaranteed income, arguing that direct cash support is “a lifesaver” for many Americans struggling with rising costs, responding to criticism from White House officials. zurl.co/YLHpu

On Ireland’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot, one participant describes how the €325 weekly unconditional payment allowed artists to focus on creative work, reduce financial stress, and contribute to cultural life. zurl.co/fOWOH

Peter Diamandis shared a conversation with Yang, suggesting society may have a 1–3 year window where UBI could act as a bridge during rapid AI disruption, while Scott Santens’ advocacy continues to amplify public debate on unconditional cash policies. zurl.co/WPAh1