Vereniging Basisinkomen

Origins
The idea of a basic income was supported by the GreenLeft political party, who included a proposal for a partial basic income in their 1998-2002 electoral program. After the Dutch government rejected a proposal by its scientific council to introduce a partial basic income in 1985, in 1987 the 'Werkplaats Basisinkomen' (basic income workplace) was established by several political parties and trade unions. Four years later, the 'Werkplaats' was replaced with the Vereniging Basisinkomen to accommodate members from the general public.
Activities
Vereniging Basisinkomen publishes the Nieuwsbrief Basisinkomen (Basic Income Newsletter) thrice yearly and regularly invites speakers to discuss topics related to basic income. The association held a two-day international congress on basic income in Noordwijk, 1996. VBI members also helped organize the 7th Biannual International Congress of the Basic Income Earth Network in Amsterdam in 1998.
Proposals for a basic income
Vereniging Basisinkomen advocates for the funding of a basic income through a variety of sources, including revenues gathered from natural resources and government properties redistributed in the form of a citizen's dividend and by redefining existing state benefits and welfare programs. They also discuss the transition to a basic income, specifically a reduction of the age required to acquire a state pension, removal of conditions for social security payments, expansion of negative income tax and the use of small-scale experiments to test other means.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu