Global basic income as the ultimate human safety net
Basic income proposals and pilot projects have varied enormously regarding how much money is provided per person. Richer countries have tended to explore amounts ranging from $400 - $2000 per person per month (often with lower rates for children), intending to replace existing social welfare benefits and - in some cases - provide a viable alternative to paid employment.
Other proposals and experiments have focused on improving incomes for those who get the worst deal in the world economy. These rarely aim to replace paid work; on the contrary, they often boost employment by giving local people money to spend. They also do not usually expect to replace existing social security, where it exists. Cash transfer programmes for Haitian earthquake survivors and Syrian refugees have given amounts of $100 to $120 per household per month (so $10 to $60 per person), while pilot basic income projects in India and Namibia have given between $2 and $7 per person per month. These small amounts have often made big differences - hunger and ill health are reduced, school attendance and community cohesion improve, women are empowered and local economies flourish.
Global basic income has more in common with the latter kinds of schemes. It is not intended to replace work or other social security, and we hope that many countries will also provide a national basic income on top of it. Global basic income should be seen simply as the ultimate human safety net, to ensure that no matter where you live, your basic human right to life is secure.
The amount we could receive as global UBI would obviously depend on how much money can be raised at the international level. Our latest research exploring the potential of international carbon charges, international wealth tax and financial transaction tax, and more suggests that a global basic income of between $30 and $100 per person per month (including for every child) would be possible immediately if the necessary policies were introduced.
Other proposals and experiments have focused on improving incomes for those who get the worst deal in the world economy. These rarely aim to replace paid work; on the contrary, they often boost employment by giving local people money to spend. They also do not usually expect to replace existing social security, where it exists. Cash transfer programmes for Haitian earthquake survivors and Syrian refugees have given amounts of $100 to $120 per household per month (so $10 to $60 per person), while pilot basic income projects in India and Namibia have given between $2 and $7 per person per month. These small amounts have often made big differences - hunger and ill health are reduced, school attendance and community cohesion improve, women are empowered and local economies flourish.
Global basic income has more in common with the latter kinds of schemes. It is not intended to replace work or other social security, and we hope that many countries will also provide a national basic income on top of it. Global basic income should be seen simply as the ultimate human safety net, to ensure that no matter where you live, your basic human right to life is secure.
The amount we could receive as global UBI would obviously depend on how much money can be raised at the international level. Our latest research exploring the potential of international carbon charges, international wealth tax and financial transaction tax, and more suggests that a global basic income of between $30 and $100 per person per month (including for every child) would be possible immediately if the necessary policies were introduced.
We propose a global basic income of
US $30 - $100 per person per month
for every adult and every child worldwide.
As it would be provided to children too, this means $120 to $400 per month for a family of four. This amount, provided securely every month for our whole lives, would be significant for at least 90% of the world's people and transformative for several billion people.
This estimate is a starting figure: the amount that could be provided as global UBI is likely to increase significantly over the years, as dividends from people-owned wealth funds increase, and public support for international taxation and commons dividends grows. In time, global UBI could become a key force for global redistribution, helping to equal wealth and income between the Global North and South, as well as a significant social safety net, supporting people everywhere to live secure and decent lives.
This estimate is a starting figure: the amount that could be provided as global UBI is likely to increase significantly over the years, as dividends from people-owned wealth funds increase, and public support for international taxation and commons dividends grows. In time, global UBI could become a key force for global redistribution, helping to equal wealth and income between the Global North and South, as well as a significant social safety net, supporting people everywhere to live secure and decent lives.
$100 means $100, no matter where you are
At Equal Right, we believe the amount received should not vary according to average incomes or prices in each country. If $100 buys more in some countries than others, that is great - usually countries with low prices are places where people live on the lowest incomes; if these people especially feel the benefit of their global basic income, so much the better.