Photos: Elza Loginova

Photos: Elza Loginova

Controversy over Partial Basic Income Models

The first thematic stream, “UBI as Social Security and/or Social Protection Floor,” addressed the controversial debate surrounding partial basic income models. While Alexander Spermann in his keynote advocated for a partial UBI as a realistic option for Germany, Jörg Althammer’s keynote highlighted the fundamental tension between various UBI objectives, i.e. distributive justice, fiscal feasibility and economic efficiency cannot be optimally achieved simultaneously. This fundamental debate proved particularly challenging, as reported by Verena Löffler, member of the FRIBIS “care” team:

Constitutional Challenges in Focus

Beyond this fundamental debate about partial versus full basic income models, specific implementation hurdles were also addressed. A workshop on the constitutional prerequisites for introducing UBI proved particularly challenging, as co-moderator Otto Lüdemann, emeritus professor of educational science at HAW Hamburg, reports:

As a constructive way forward, Lüdemann suggested exploring these constitutional issues in an ARD podcast featuring experts and representatives from the Research Service of the German Bundestag.

Photos: Elza Loginova

UBI and Ecological Transformation

The second main theme of the conference explored ways in which basic income and ecological sustainability could be combined. Various instruments were discussed that could support both social security and ecological transformation – from climate dividends to specific basic income models for nature conservation. Simon März was particularly impressed by the work of the FRIBIS BINC team:

International Perspectives and Global Implementations of a UBI

The international dimension of basic income research, exemplified by the previously mentioned BINC team, was at the heart of the conference’s third main theme. Here Fabio Waltenberg provided detailed insights in his keynote on the “Citizens Basic Income” in the Brazilian city of Maricá. In this city of approximately 200,000 inhabitants, almost 50% of the population receives a form of unconditional basic income, paid in a local currency, “mumbuca”. Other international implementations of basic income were also focused on: Verena Löffler was particularly fascinated by the panel discussion on the basic income study in India:

Photos: Elza Loginova

Conclusion

Once again the FRIBIS Annual Conference 2024 proved to be a productive forum for exchange between academia and civil society engagement. Participants drew particular attention to the diversity of concepts and ideas discussed, from which all those present could benefit. Nevertheless, the collegial atmosphere of the event, aptly described by Ulrich Schachtschneider as a “family reunion,” did not detract from its intellectual depth. The integration of a variety of perspectives was widely appreciated. This included the connection between care work and gender aspects within the basic income debate as well as the discussion around ecological transformation potentials. The questions raised – from the controversy surrounding partial basic income and constitutional hurdles to the link between social and ecological sustainability – will continue to shape the future basic income discourse.

Finally, special thanks are extended to Sin Carne Schwarzwald GmbH for their excellent vegan catering and to Elza Loginova for her professional photographic documentation of the conference.

Now more than ever: The dispute over the German federal government’s budget draft, obligations due to acute crises such as the Ukraine war, economic downturn, and looming revenue losses due to the outcome of the US election seem to leave no room for social policy demands or visionary thinking. Yet it is precisely these crises that expose the dead ends of austerity politics: the rise of right-wing movements in parts of the country bears witness to the consequences of deep-seated insecurity and existential fears. Against this backdrop, open discussions and bold thinking about alternative futures are more urgent than ever. This is exactly what the Social Policy Conference in Dortmund sets out to achieve.

The Department of Applied Social Sciences at Fachhochschule Dortmund, in cooperation with the Freiburg Institute for Basic Income Studies (FRIBIS), the “Netzwerk Grundeinkommen Deutschland” (German Basic Income Network), and “BIEN Austria” (Basic Income Earth Network Austria), is organizing a workshop on “Bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen und Soziale Infrastruktur?!” (Universal Basic Income and Social Infrastructure?! Connections and Contradictions on the Path to a Sustainable Society).

Topic: Some advocate for universal financial security as a foundation for existence, participation, freedom of self-determination, and engagement in care work; others focus on access to education, health, transport, housing, energy, and political participation. Two approaches: Universal Basic Income (UBI) and Universal Basic Services (UBS) – two paths toward the same goals? Do they contradict or complement each other? Do both lead to a sustainable, future-oriented society? What would such a society look like? And how could such a transformation be initiated?

Objective: The workshop aims to introduce both concepts and discuss their strengths, weaknesses, connections, incompatibilities, and implementation paths. Both approaches will first be presented and critically examined at an academic level, relating them to associated debates (de-growth, everyday economics). Next, two popular political initiatives (Public Luxury, Care Revolution) will be presented and analyzed through the lens of their respective theories. Finally, the practical viability of these approaches will be tested using the example of homeless people’s living conditions and interests. The change of location from the university to the city district of Nordstadt represents a change in perspective: How could societal transformation succeed considering these approaches and ideas? What do the stakeholders themselves think?

Organizers: The workshop is hosted by Fachhochschule Dortmund in partnership with FRIBIS, the “Netzwerk Grundeinkommen Deutschland,” and BIEN Austria. Key participants from FRIBIS include Roland Blaschke, Margit Appel, Ute Fischer, and Gudrun Kaufmann from the FRIBIS Care Team.

Target Audience: The event is designed for master’s students, academic colleagues specializing in homelessness, other guests and cooperation partners, as well as the broader urban community and civil society initiatives.

The event takes place at Fachhochschule Dortmund, with an excursion to the city district of Nordstadt to promote a change in perspective and dialogue between the university and the urban community.

This year’s BIEN Congress took place at the University of Bath (UK) from August 29 to 31. Titled “Reclaiming radical roots: Basic income and Socio-Ecological Transformation,” the event explored the potential of basic income to create an economically just, politically inclusive and ecologically sustainable world. Among the participants from academia, civil society and politics, were members of FRIBIS and its teams.

In the following reports FRIBIS members share their impressions of the congress. They reveal the range of topics discussed, from linking basic income to opportunities for exiting precarious situations, through gender perspectives in basic income research and the role of basic income in socio-ecological transformation, to innovative methodological approaches, such as narrative economics. The significance of local basic income initiatives was also addressed. Below you can find out what FRIBIS members thought about the congress, what new insights they gained and the role that personal exchange and networking within the international research community played for them.

Clem Davies und Carlota De Novales, FRIBIS-Team UBI & Gender: “Voice and Representation in Basic Income Research”

Carlota De Novales presented a paper titled “Voice and Representation in Basic Income Research,” co-authored with Clem Davies, which examined gender disparities in contributions to the field of basic income studies, with a focus on the journal Basic Income Studies. The research analysed both the gender composition of authors and the extent to which gender issues are addressed within the published literature. The study revealed that women comprised only about 25% of the contributing authors and that fewer than 10% of the published papers meaningfully engaged with gender-related topics. Additionally, it was observed that women were predominantly responsible for the research addressing gender issues. The ensuing discussion was constructive, with participants encouraging further exploration and publication opportunities on this subject.

Jessica Schulz, FRIBIS-Team UBI & Gender: “Equalizing Educational Opportunities: Basic Income, Scarcity Mindset and Students’ Academic Paths”

At this year’s BIEN Congress in Bath, I had the opportunity to contribute in a number of ways. In my presentation “Equalizing Educational Opportunities: Basic Income, Scarcity Mindset and Students’ Academic Paths,” I presented the qualitative analysis of my questionnaire study on Universal Basic Income and the scarcity mind set. Philippe van Parijs chaired the panel “Transformative Effects of Basic Income” in the “Social Policy” stream. Presenting to an international audience was a valuable exercise in communicating my research and responding to the thought-provoking questions from both audience and moderator. The subsequent discussion provided numerous insights for the paper I will be writing this autumn.

As the coordinator of the FRIBIS Gender Team, I was also involved in organizing and moderating a round table, titled “Exploring Gender Balance and Perspectives in Basic Income Research.” Speakers included Almaz Zelleke (Professor at NYU Shanghai and Gender Team member), Fabio Waltenberg (Professor at Universidade Federal Fluminense in Niterói and editor of Basic Income Studies) and Carlota De Novales Coronel (Erasmus student and Gender Team member). The active participation of the audience in the discussion about gender distribution in basic income research was particularly gratifying, with the multitude of questions and contributions demonstrated the considerable interest in the topic.

The congress was a very enriching experience for me as I was able to act both as presenter and moderator. These two formats require different approaches in conversation management and presence and I am grateful for the opportunity to have practiced both. The positive feedback I received was very motivating. I particularly appreciate the sense of networking that has developed through my work at FRIBIS and especially in the FRIBIS Gender Team. So I already knew many of the congress participants from previous events. I also had the opportunity to join the newly founded BIEN PhD Network, which met for the first time at the congress. Overall, it was a positive educational experience for me, both professionally and personally.

Gudrun Kaufmann, FRIBIS-Team care: “Narratives of Change – Basic Income through the Lens of Narrative Scenario Analyses & Conviction Narrative Theory”

When I learned that the BIEN Congress 2024 would take place in England, I immediately wanted to attend in person this time. My aim was not only to present part of my current research but also to experience the international basic income research community up close and to reconnect with some acquaintances and friends. The unique opportunities offered through my work at FRIBIS became clear to me once again, for over the past few years, I have met many key figures in basic income research in Freiburg and now had the opportunity to meet some of them again in England.

The title of my presentation was “Narratives of Change – Basic Income through the Lens of Narrative Scenario Analyses & Conviction Narrative Theory”. Here I presented my theoretical perspective of “narrative economics” as well as various approaches to “narratives of change”, using basic income studies as an example to demonstrate the potential of narrativist methods for further basic income research. There were interested inquiries immediately following the presentation and further exchanges with other researchers. The positive feedback has reinforced my research approach and provided additional motivation.

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in the BIEN Congress this year. It was my second time to attend the congress but the first in person. I was happy  to get to England in an environmentally friendly manner, by train. I had offered my services to the local organizing committee as a volunteer in advance  and was quickly integrated into a highly motivated. team So I was able contribute to the success of the congress as a whole. In addition to the professional exchange, such a congress offers excellent networking opportunities and I am eager to see how some of the projects will develop further.

Tobias Jäger, FRIBIS-Team Basic Income for Peacebuilding: “Basic Income and Exit as a Social Good”

At this year’s conference in Bath, I had the opportunity to present the current state of a collaborative study with Jurgen De Wispelaere, titled “Basic Income and Exit as a Social Good”. The presentation took place on the first day as part of the “Labour and Exit” panel. I delivered the talk on my own as Jurgen was concurrently presenting at another session. The panel was well-attended and, to my knowledge, recorded. The primary objective of this presentation was to solicit initial feedback on the concept of exit as a “social good”. The 20-minute talk was followed by an extended Q&A session. A key point of the discussion was the hypothesized negative correlation between the value of the exit option and its utilization. This feedback was particularly valuable in identifying areas requiring more robust substantiation in future iterations of the work. Prof. Almaz Zelleke suggested expanding the model to incorporate gender-related considerations. On a personal note, the presentation provided an excellent opportunity to refine my presentation skills and deepen my engagement with current debates in this field. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and encouraging for further research. Our paper has been invited for consideration in a special issue, though the final outcome is pending.

The conference featured numerous interesting events related to labour and exit. Notable examples include “Rethinking Rawls on Employment and A Universal Basic Income” by Larry Udell, “Rawlsian Arguments for and against Basic Income and Job Guarantees” by Michael Howard, and “Between Charity and Entitlement: Unconditional Basic Income as a Gift” by Catarina Neves. All three presentations offered valuable insights, particularly from a social contract perspective.

In my capacity as coordinator of “Basic Income for Peace Building”, I found the lack of substantial development in debates within this area somewhat disappointing. One panel on this topic, in particular, seemed to lack the depth I had anticipated. But on reflection, I acknowledge that a more proactive role as a FRIBIS coordinator might have been beneficial.

Overall, my assessment of the conference was very positive. It provided opportunities for skill development, networking with fellow researchers, and garnered constructive feedback on my work.

Fabienne Hansen: “The Making Of Moeda Social Arariboia: Mapping A Network Of Concepts Through Federal And Local Exchange In Brazilian Municipal Social Policies”

The 23rd Congress in Bath was a rich and diverse experience for me. I had the chance to contribute to various presentations and initiatives, with the launch of the UBI Early Career Network being a particular highlight. The keen interest in this initiative was both surprising and encouraging. So I’m hopeful that the network will significantly enhance academic collaboration among emerging UBI researchers in the years to come.

I also took part in two panel discussions. One was a roundtable titled “The Municipal Path to Basic Income: What Can We Learn from the Maricá Model?”. It drew considerable attention and the panel even made it into the local news in Maricá, which was an unexpected bonus. In another panel focused on Maricá, I presented some of my research on the Moeda Social Arariboia. The audience was very interested in the topic and I received valuable feedback. For me, the discussions that followed, especially the informal conversations, reinforced the importance and relevance of our work in the UBI community.

Overall, I found the atmosphere at the congress intellectually stimulating and open. The productive exchanges with fellow UBI researchers were invaluable, providing insights that will undoubtedly shape my future projects and collaborations.

Dominik Schröder and Bianca Blum, FRIBIS-Team UBITrans: “Climate Justice in the Eco-Social State: The Role of Universal Basic Income in Commons Regulation”

In our presentation at the BIEN Congress, we explored the role of Universal Basic Income (UBI) within an eco-social state framework. Our primary focus was on how UBI could facilitate climate-just commons regulation. Drawing on the concept of the “tragedy of the commons,” we illustrated how shared resources, such as the Earth’s atmosphere as a CO₂ sink, are frequently overexploited in the absence of incentives for sustainable use. We posited that an eco-social state that aims to reconcile ecological and social sustainability must not only prevent the overuse of common goods but also ensure an equitable distribution of the resulting costs and benefits. While carbon pricing could address the issue of overuse, its regressive effect disproportionately burdens lower-income households through higher energy prices. A UBI could potentially mitigate this effect and can be normatively derived from the principle of climate justice, which we define at its most basic level as equal rights to natural resources. Consequently, we propose that revenues from taxing natural resources should be redistributed equally per capita, potentially in the form of a UBI.

Implementing a UBI as a redistribution mechanism for carbon pricing revenues promotes the concept of universal entitlement to fair participation in common goods, such as the atmosphere. It also ensures that a majority of the population would experience a net benefit from such a reform, potentially securing broad political support for higher carbon prices and, by extension, more effective CO2 emission reduction. This could represent a significant advantage of UBI in the context of socio-ecological transformation, an aspect that has received limited attention in the current eco-social state literature.

The congress provided us with valuable feedback, diverse perspectives, and new ideas for our research project. The post-presentation discussion and the contributions from other panel participants were particularly beneficial in critically examining and expanding our concept. Our participation in the congress has reinforced our conviction that the discourse on UBI’s role in socio-ecological transformation has substantial developmental potential and that the nexus between social and ecological sustainability is of increasing significance.

Larissa Walter: “How can Cognitive Psychology Contribute to the Discourse on Basic Income? Integrating Basic Income and Cognitive Control Research through Laboratory Methodology”

At the BIEN conference, I presented my research on bridging cognitive control research and Universal Basic Income (UBI) discourse through laboratory experiments. My presentation, titled “How can Cognitive Psychology contribute to the Discourse on Basic Income? Integrating Basic Income and Cognitive Control Research through Laboratory Methodology” began with an overview of current UBI research and laboratory methodologies. I then presented my own research as a case study, highlighting the significance of cognitive control processes. After defining the key terminology, I outlined the essential parameters of cognitive psychology laboratory experiments and shared findings from my systematic review.

The audience showed particular interest in the practical applications of my research, specifically how cognitive research findings could inform UBI discourse and how the implementation of UBI might influence cognitive outcomes. There was significant interest in the potential integration of these findings into existing pilot projects. This response has encouraged me to focus future presentations on concrete applications, demonstrating the practical intersection of cognitive research and UBI discourse.

Beyond the formal presentations, the conference provided valuable opportunities for informal discussions about my research focus. These exchanges revealed both substantial interest in my topic and the need to further clarify certain cognitive psychological concepts and methodological approaches. The exchange with other participants proved especially enlightening, offering fresh perspectives on my research. Moreover, I was able to contribute practical insights from my expertise, enriching these dialogues further.

When asked about her expectations for team membership, she responds:

Regarding the UBI lecture series taking place at the University of Vienna in the winter semester 2024/25, Appel explains:

The lecture series takes place every Wednesday from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM CET in HS III NIG at the University of Vienna. Detailed program information can be found here (in German).

Two members of the FRIBIS “Basisgeld” team recently contributed to the public debate on direct transfer payments. On October 17, 2024, Dr. Wolfgang Strengmann-Kuhn, Member of the German Parliament and FRIBIS Basisgeld team member, presented the Basisgeld concept developed by team leader Prof. Alexander Spermann in the German Bundestag:

The “Hamburg Tests Basic Income” initiative has achieved a significant breakthrough: On October 1, 2024, the campaign submitted 95,842 signatures to the Hamburg Senate – far exceeding the required threshold (65,000 signatures) for Germany’s first state-funded basic income pilot.

Research Framework for Pilot Study

The three-year pilot study will provide basic income to 2,000 Hamburg residents. To ensure demographic representation, participants will be selected from carefully chosen neighborhoods across the city. The research will examine how basic income affects work patterns, social interactions, and family dynamics.

Path to Implementation

The election authority will now verify the signatures within a six-week period, potentially leading to a public referendum coinciding with the federal elections on September 25, 2025. This initiative reflects strong public support: A 2019 DIW study indicated that approximately 70 percent of German residents favor basic income pilot projects.

FRIBIS as Research Partner

FRIBIS supports the Expedition Basic Income through its dedicated XUBI team, which specializes in the evaluation of basic income pilots. This interdisciplinary team provides expertise on funding mechanisms, research methodology, and data analytics. Drawing on its network of international experts in social sciences, economics, and related fields, FRIBIS ensures rigorous research standards throughout the Hamburg pilot.

XUBI Team Expansion

Early 2024 brought significant changes to the XUBI team: Following Dr. Lisa Reuter’s departure as team coordinator, three distinguished researchers who have collaborated with the team since 2023 have formally joined: Prof. Dr. Hanna Schwander, Chair of Political Sociology and Social Policy at HU Berlin, Prof. Dr. Swen Hutter, Director of the Center for Civil Society Research and Lichtenberg Professor of Political Sociology at FU Berlin, and Dr. Bastian Becker, Interim Chair for Comparative Politics at HU Berlin.

Recent Television Report on Hamburg’s Basic Income Initiative (02.10.24) [Available in German only]

FRIBIS has released volume 5 of its publication series, titled Care & Gender – Potentials & Risks of Universal Basic Income (UBI). Edited by Bernhard Neumärker and Jessica Schulz, this volume presents selected proceedings from the FRIBIS Annual Conference 2023.

Abstract:

The third annual FRIBIS conference in October 2023 centered its discussions on two previously underrepresented subjects in the Basic Income debate: care and gender. By focusing on these topics, the conference highlighted the importance of exploring basic income through an intersectional feminist lens, particularly addressing issues of care, the care economy, and the division of labor. The main conference was organized by the two international FRIBIS Teams: Care & Basic Income and Gender & Basic Income. Parallel sessions from other FRIBIS teams and members, as well as external researchers and advocates from multiple disciplines and fields of expertise, completed the program. A selection of the contributions is available in this volume.

Care & Gender – Potentials & Risks of Universal Basic Income (UBI) is now available from LIT Verlag in both print and ebook formats.

At the recent BIEN Congress, held from August 29 to 31 at the University of Bath, UBIdata was unveiled as an innovative tool for advancing basic income research. This pioneering project aims to deliver reliable information on basic income to a rapidly expanding global audience, including both individuals and institutions eager to learn more. For a deeper dive into this initiative, join us at the upcoming Annual FRIBIS Conference, where Jurgen De Wispelaere—member of the FRIBIS teams UBI-XT and UBIMar—will be showcasing UBIdata.

Explore more at UBIdata.io

On July 6, 2024, the Basic Income Network commemorated its 20th anniversary at the Budde-Haus in Leipzig with a series of lectures, discussions and panels. The event, attended by approximately 60-70 participants per session, convened a diverse group of scientists, activists and interested citizens. It featured a range of presentations, conversations, networking opportunities and festivities. Dr. Verena Löffler, Franziska Leopold, and Tobias Dumschat, researchers from different FRIBIS teams, participated as panellists.

Basic Income and Care

Tobias Dumschat, Coordinator of the FRIBIS team “care”, and a doctoral student at FRIBIS, participated in the “Work – Care – Basic Income” discussion from 2:15 pm to 4:00 pm. He shared findings from his qualitative study, which investigates whether family caregivers need a basic income or not. His research focuses on non-retired caregivers who assist elderly dependents. Dumschat discussed ways in which a basic income might expand the range of actions available to this group and shared the subjective views of those affected.

Reflecting on his role as a speaker, he commented,

Homelessness and Basic Income

From 4:15 PM to 5:15 PM, Dr. Verena Löffler, also a member of the FRIBIS team “care”, presented her findings on “Homelessness and Basic Income.” She explored whether a basic income could improve the living conditions of the most disadvantaged. She shared results from various projects, suggesting that an unconditional basic income could serve as a preventive measure against homelessness. Löffler described the subsequent discussion as “very productive”:

Verena Löffler im Gespräch mit Chriss (Wohnungslosenaktivist)

Public Opinion on Basic Income and NGO Strategies

Franziska Leopold, Coordinator of the FRIBIS team MUBINGO and a research associate at FRIBIS, presented her study, “Approval and Positions on Basic Income – Hints for Successful NGO Strategies” from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Her research not only addresses public opinion on basic income but also explores the challenges faced by volunteers within the German-speaking basic income movement. Leopold shared the outcomes of her analysis, which assessed public sentiment across various demographic groups and identified factors that influence support for basic income.

She reported that her presentation was well received, with some participants inquiring afterwards whether the information was already publicly available. The audience showed keen interest in how a basic income could be framed to enhance public acceptance. Her findings have reinforced NGO efforts by illustrating that knowledge about basic income in the general population is still rather limited.

The Basic Income Network’s Perspective on Collaboration between Activism and Academia

We spoke with Ronald Blaschke, co-founder and long-time member of the Basic Income Network, about his views on the role of collaboration between research and activism in advancing the basic income movement and the accomplishments of activist efforts over the past two decades. Blaschke, who has been active in such social movements for 30 years, including 20 in the basic income movement, has published on basic income, held teaching positions, and worked professionally in the German Bundestag and voluntarily with the Basic Income Network and scientific institutions.

Lack of overview of previous Basic Income research?

However, he sees a problem in the perception of existing knowledge about basic income by researchers:

Editorial Note: The Basic Income Network recently published a comprehensive literature list on the topic of basic income. This list includes over 1,300 titles of German-language works on basic income and thus represents the most comprehensive compilation in this field to date. The list is publicly accessible and is continuously updated by the Basic Income Network’s Literature Working Group.

Communication between Research and the Public

Blaschke also emphasized the need for improved communication between researchers and the general public:

Conclusion

In summary, the anniversary celebration powerfully reaffirmed the significance of ongoing dialogue between research and activism for the future development of the basic income concept. The event also underscored the importance of presenting research findings in a manner that is comprehensible to the broader public, thereby enhancing the civic dialogue on basic income.