The campaign for World Basic Income, a global scheme to redistribute wealth, share natural assets and end poverty. Also known as Global Citizens Income, Universal Dividend and other names.
  • What and why
    • What is WBI?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Publications
  • How WBI could work
    • Funding a world basic income
    • How much would we get?
    • Distributing the money
    • Possible effects of a WBI
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Who we are
    • What We Do
    • Contact us
  • Support WBI
  • What and why
    • What is WBI?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Publications
  • How WBI could work
    • Funding a world basic income
    • How much would we get?
    • Distributing the money
    • Possible effects of a WBI
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Who we are
    • What We Do
    • Contact us
  • Support WBI

What is
​World Basic income?

World Basic Income is a proposed global scheme that would regularly transfer money to every person in the world, for them to spend as they wish. A world basic income scheme would ideally run alongside normal work and national welfare or basic income systems, to redistribute wealth to those who need and deserve it, and secure every human being’s right to life. ​
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​Most countries already transfer money to citizens, as pensions, welfare payments and child benefits.

Basic income is similar – the main difference is that it is paid to everyone, whether you are working or not. This means that everyone can get by, but you’re always better off if you are working, as you get your wages as well as your basic income. Basic income isn’t a replacement for work – it’s just a way of ensuring we can all live in dignity, with our basic needs covered even when times are hard. 

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​Our world is wealthy, so a world basic income scheme could be funded in a variety of ways.

These could include international taxes such as a financial transaction tax or a carbon tax, levies on the extraction, trade or use of natural resources, or fees charged for intellectual property protection or the use of collective resources such as the radio spectrum.

​This organisation and others will continue researching these options and more, to find ways to make this idea a reality.

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At the moment, a world basic income seems a long way off.

The idea of national basic incomes is becoming well-established, but the proposal for a world-level scheme is quite new. We have lots of work to do to research the practicalities, run pilot experiments, build support, and eventually get a scheme started.

However, all positive change must be fought for. We believe that a world basic income could transform people’s lives all over the world. We and our sister organisations will fight for it, to share the wealth and to secure the right to life for all of us. We hope you will join us in calling for this change. 


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