Universal Basic Income

As the first major national party in the United Kingdom, the Liberal Democrats are set to vote on universal basic income policies on the first day of their annual conference.

The motion is expected to pass and is supported by party leader Sir Ed Davey.

The German Pilotprojekt Grundeinkommen (pilot project basic income) initiative has crossed the goal of 1 million applications just three days after announcing the pilot project and stated that they will keep the applications for participation open until the 10 November 2020. As of writing over 1,2 million people have applied.

The study plans to give €1,200 per month over three years to 120 participants. Researchers will compare their experiences with another group of 1,380 people who will not receive the payments.

The German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin and the non-profit association Mein Grundeinkommen e.V. (‘My Basic Income Association’) have partnered to start a basic income pilot project.

In total 1,500 people will participate in the basic income study out of which 120 people will receive €1,200 per month. The remaining 1,380 people will be part of a control group. The study question that will be evaluated is: "What would be the maximum benefit of an idealized basic income without a financing model?"

From 2022 and 2023 on the initiative aims to try other forms of basic income such as topping up existing monthly income up to €1,200 and another one where all participants receive €1,200, which is offset against a simulated tax of 50 percent on all other income. The difference will be paid out.

Every person 18 and older that has a primary residence registered in Germany can apply to be part of the study. As of writing over 160,000 people have applied during the first day. The project is financed by private people via crowdfunding.

Bill Peduto, the mayor of Pittsburgh, has announced that his city will participate in a "guaranteed income" program. Eligible residents will receive $500 per month. Peduto did not specify how many people will receive the money but stated that they'll look for people where the sum of $500 would improve their lives and that they'll look for people of different backgrounds and demographics in order to conduct an impact study.

The project is financed by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey who tweeted that "this is one tool to close the wealth and income gap, level systemic race and gender inequalities, and create economic security for families".

The Twitter CEO and billionaire Jack Dorsey has announced that he is working with 14 mayors or American cities to fund trials for a universal basic income in their respective cities. The plan is part of the group "Mayors for a Guaranteed Income" with the goal to "supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net" and to use it as "a tool for racial and gender equity".

Dorsey himself will use $3 million from his nonprofit for the program which aims to impact up to 7 million people.

According to a spokesperson the Spanish cabinet has approved a national minimum income of 462€ for citizens that earn below this threshold. People between 21 and 65 that earn below the minimum will receive money from the government to ensure that they get at least the minimum amount every month. For families the amount can increase up to 1,015€.

The former contender for the democratic presidential candidacy Andrew Yang has announced that he'll finance a universal basic income of $1,000 per month for two people in South Carolina. The campaign is financed by his charity organization Humanity Forward and people can apply for consideration.

Senators Kamala Harris of California, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Ed Markey of Massachusetts will introduce a bill aimed at establishing a rebate payment program that would deliver $2,000 to US residents including children until the Covid-19 pandemic has ended.

Harris said in a statement: "The coronavirus pandemic has caused millions to struggle to pay the bills or feed their families".

The Spanish deputy prime minister and minister for economy has announced that the government is working on rolling out a version of a universal basic income. The government's social security minister Jose Luis Escriva is working on the project with the aim of rolling the universal basic income out as soon as possible. Furthermore, the income is designed to become "a permanent instrument" that stays after the coronavirus pandemic.

The Humanity Forward not-for-profit group founded by the former Democratic presidential nominee contender Andrew Yang has announced that 500 households in New York City's Bronx will receive $1,000 each in order to combat the economic difficulties during the coronavirus outbreak. The Humanity Forward organization was funded to provide money directly to the people, following Andrew Yang's repeated calls for a universal basic income during and after his campaign.

In order to combat the economical consequences of the coronavirus outbreak, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has announced they'd be "looking at sending checks to Americans immediately" following the shutdown of many businesses across America. “Americans need cash now and the president wants to get cash now. And I mean now in the next two weeks", Mnuchin added.

In a press release, he said that "Every American adult should immediately receive $1,000 to help ensure families and workers can meet their short-term obligations and increase spending in the economy".