The WEAll Ireland Hub is delighted to announce the launch of a new discussion paper on Universal Basic Income (UBI) on Friday July 24 at 1pm Irish time. The paper has been produced by Equal Right in collaboration with Feasta, as part of an advocacy project managed by Feasta for the Irish Environmental Pillar’s Circular and Wellbeing Economy Hub.
It is well-established now that the ecological transition will require a broad economic transformation. Changes are needed not only in production and consumption patterns, but also in overarching economic objectives.
The paper’s central argument is that this transformation needs to include a UBI. Situating UBI within the framework of a ‘wellbeing economy’, designed around human and ecological flourishing rather than the prioritisation of GDP growth, reveals connections between income security, ecological behaviour and social resilience that more conventional assessments miss.
Ireland’s recent experiments in social innovation – such as the first comprehensive ban on smoking in the workplace, the plastic bag tax, and the Basic Income for the Arts – have garnered international attention and praise.
Could Ireland be a trailblazer in introducing a national-level UBI? What complementary measures and ‘guard rails’ would be needed to make UBI a success in Ireland, in social and ecological terms?
This hour-long session on Friday July 24 at 1pm Irish time will include an introduction to the new paper by Dr Patrick Brown of Equal Right and Caroline Whyte of Feasta, and a Q&A and opportunity to exchange reflections on it.
While the paper’s focus is on Ireland, we believe it will also be of interest and useful to those based elsewhere.
You can register for the launch here.