A Guaranteed Global Basic Income To Start

Bern Trial: The capital city of Bern, Switzerland is set to begin a large-scale trial of UBI to further explore the concept.

Universal Basic Income (UBI) provides cash to everyone in a population, regardless of their income or employment status, while Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) provides a cash payment only to individuals who fall below a certain income threshold, effectively creating a poverty elimination floor. UBI is universal and not targeted by need, whereas GBI is income-based and focused on providing a safety net for people. 

We can choose either one to start immediately, I will state the case for the Guaranteed Basic Income to start.

In an era of unprecedented technological advancement and economic conglomeration, the concept of a Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) is no longer an unknown idea. Its time to implement this.

A new safety net for a new economy.

The rise of automation and artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the labor market. As a growing number of jobs become obsolete, the traditional link between employment and survival is weakening. A GBI will serve as a powerful new safety net, insulating individuals and communities from the shocks of technological disruption. It provides a consistent, reliable financial floor that eradicates catastrophic poverty and allows people to pursue education, retraining, and entrepreneurship without the constant fear of losing their income.

This stability has far-reaching benefits for the economy as a whole. Freed from the pressure of working multiple low-wage jobs, people can invest in their skills, their families, and their communities, leading to long-term economic growth and resilience.

Beyond poverty reduction: The social and ethical case

While GBI is a potent tool for poverty elimination, its benefits extend far beyond economic metrics. By providing an unconditional income, GBI empowers individuals and respects their inherent worth. This freedom and respect are the ethical cornerstones.

This approach acknowledges the value of unpaid labor, such as caregiving, education, and artistic work. In Switzerland, for example, proponents of a 2016 universal income referendum argued that a UBI would validate the more than 50% of work that is unpaid, performed in homes and communities. Even by providing a baseline income, a GBI, its possible for individuals to contribute to society in ways that aren’t tied to the formal wage economy.

Real-world lessons from around the globe

The journey toward starting a GBI has been paved with trials and experiments worldwide, offering valuable insights and lessons. One of the most prominent examples was in Iran, which became the first country to implement a nationwide cash transfer program in 2010.

• Iran’s cash subsidy program: To compensate for the phase-out of national subsidies on basic goods like fuel and bread, the Iranian government implemented a monthly cash transfer for all citizens. This “de facto basic income” was not initially framed as a right of citizenship but as an economic reform. In the short term, the program significantly reduced poverty and inequality. However, the program’s value was eroded over time due to high inflation, demonstrating the critical need for a stable funding source and political commitment for long-term success.
  • The monthly transfer amounted to 29% of median household income, or about $1.50 extra per head of household, per day. (In the US, that would be an extra $16,389.64, well above the standard scheme of $1,000 a month proposed by many basic income advocates.)
  • LINK HERE One of the biggest criticisms of basic income, a system of giving people modest salaries just for being alive, is that it discourages people from working.
  • A new report on an ongoing cash-transfer program launched in 2011 in Iran may cast some doubt on the claim.
  • Published by the economists Djavad Salehi-Isfahani and Mohammad H. Mostafavi-Dehzooei, the paper finds no evidence to support the idea that people receiving cash transfers take themselves out of the labor force. Some workers even expanded their hours, the report found.
• Switzerland’s referendum: In 2016, Switzerland held a national referendum on a UBI. While the measure was ultimately rejected, the campaign succeeded in placing the concept squarely into public debate. Supporters and opponents debated the future of work, economic inequality, and the fundamental link between work and income. Despite the “no” vote, the referendum was a significant step forward in educating the public and legitimizing the discussion.

The experiences in Iran and Switzerland, along with numerous smaller pilot programs, prove that a GBI is more than a theoretical exercise. They offer crucial data and political lessons for the implementation of a global or national GBI, highlighting the need for robust funding and clear public messaging.

The moral imperative

As societies grapple with rising inequality and profound economic shifts and conglomeration, the question of how to ensure the well-being of all citizens has become a central moral and political challenge to some. A General Basic Income offers a compelling answer—a future where everyone has a foundation of economic security and the freedom to build a meaningful life. It is an investment in human potential and a declaration that, in an age of abundance, no one should ever be left behind.

Ireland has not implemented a standard universal basic income for all citizens, but it is making a targeted Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) program permanent in 2026 after a successful pilot. The BIA will provide a weekly payment to 2,000 artists to support their work, and the Green Party has proposed a broader universal basic income in its policies. 

Basic Income for the Arts (BIA)

• Status: The pilot program, which ran from 2022 to 2025, is being made a permanent program starting in 2026.
• What it is: A weekly payment of approximately €325 (about $375) for 2,000 selected artists and creative arts workers.
• Eligibility: Participants are chosen from an application process, with the first new applications scheduled to open in September 2026.
• Purpose: To provide financial stability for artists, allowing them to focus on their creative work, particularly as a response to the pandemic’s impact on the arts sector. 

Ireland’s Broader Universal Basic Income (UBI) proposals 

• Green Party proposal: The Green Party has proposed a system of Universal Basic Income for all residents, which would replace many current social welfare payments and provide a basic living wage. This policy is a proposal and has not been implemented.
• Other proposals: Other organizations, such as Social Justice Ireland, have also proposed variations of a basic income, such as a partial basic income, which includes a weekly payment supplemented by other targeted payments.