Basic income news
Basic income news, week by week
A weekly roundup of basic income, guaranteed income and cash transfer news, checked by hand. Each item is summarised in our own words and links to its source; proposals are labelled as proposals. For changes to this site itself, see the update log on the home page.
Week of November 2, 20263
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President Lee visits South Korea’s rural basic income pilot
President Lee Jae-myung made an unannounced visit to North Gyeongsang Province to see the rural basic income pilot, which pays residents 150,000 won a month in local vouchers. The pilot now runs in 17 of the 69 counties the government classes as depopulating.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily (Yonhap)
Related on this site: Basic income experiments: a timeline: Rural Basic Income Pilot
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New Zealand’s Opportunity Party campaigns on a citizen’s income
Ahead of the 7 November election, the party proposes a tax-free payment of up to NZ$370 a week for almost all adults, replacing most benefits and paid for with a land value tax. It is a campaign proposal, not government policy.
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Taiwan’s NT$10,000 handout goes to committee, alongside a rival NT$20,000 bill
The legislature sent the 2027 budget, which includes NT$235.7 billion for a NT$10,000 payment to every eligible resident, to committee review. The opposition KMT backs its own bill for NT$20,000; both remain proposals ahead of the 28 November local elections.
Source: Focus Taiwan (CNA) · Taipei Times
Week of October 26, 20266
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Peru: an Amazon basic income pilot reports better diets and more forest protection
A University of Bath evaluation of Cool Earth’s two-year pilot, which paid 211 people in three Asháninka communities about £2 a day, found the share of households unable to afford nutritious food fell from 73% to 26%. The study had no control group.
Source: University of Bath
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Anthropic commits 5% of its shares to a public benefit fund
The AI company is placing 5% of its shares, subject to stockholder approval, in a new fund that could make large donations and might explore direct distributions to specific populations. It is not a basic income, and details on governance are due in the coming months.
Source: Anthropic
Related on this site: When an AI company sets aside shares: Anthropic’s Public Benefit Fund and basic income
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Ireland’s permanent basic income for artists gets under way
2,000 artists chosen from more than 10,000 applicants will receive €325 a week for three years, with first payments backdated to September. The National Campaign for the Arts says €34 million in the 2027 budget funds the scheme.
Source: MusicRadar
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South Korea invites more counties to join its rural basic income pilot in 2027
The agriculture ministry opened a call for about 18 more depopulating counties, with applications from 20 October to 3 November; residents would get 150,000 won a month in local vouchers. The 2027 budget proposal raises the central government’s share of the cost from 40% to 50%, pending parliament.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Korea)
Related on this site: Basic income experiments: a timeline: Rural Basic Income Pilot
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Alaska pays its 2026 Permanent Fund Dividend of $1,200
This year’s dividend is $1,000 plus a $200 energy relief payment. Direct deposits began on 1 October, with later payment dates on 22 October, 19 November and 17 December.
Source: Alaska Department of Revenue, PFD Division · Alaska’s News Source
Related on this site: Basic income experiments: a timeline: Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend
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