Tackling inequalities and basic income theory

Speaker: Professor Guy Standing (Professor of Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London)
Chair: Dr Nicola Countouris (UCL)
Accreditation: This event is not accredited for CPD
Series: ‘Tackling Inequalities through Labour and Social Regulation’ organised by the UCL Labour Rights Institute and generously supported by the UCL European Institute.

About this lecture

Ideas long rejected may turn out to be essential or even obvious in another age. Does this apply to the idea of a basic income, that is, a universal unconditional regular payment to every individual?

This talk will argue that in the globalisation era, the 20th century income distribution system has broken down irretrievably, resulting in steadily rising inequalities, chronic economic insecurity and a globalised class structure in which the precariat is the growing mass class. In that context, a basic income is not only desirable but essential. It is also the means of avoiding a situation in which development in emerging market economies will continue to be marked by growing inequalities.

The talk will draw on two recent books, A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens and Basic Income: A Transformative Policy for India, both published by Bloomsbury.

About the speaker

Guy Standing is Professor of Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and a founder member and co-president of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), a non-governmental organisation that promotes a citizenship income for all.