Basic income is an idea whose time has come
There are powerful social movements all over the world that are campaigning for basic income. Most activists are pushing for schemes to be run by their national governments, often in place of existing social security systems, and funded by general taxation. There have been a number of highly successful pilot schemes, and there are more just getting started. Campaigns are starting to bear fruit politically, with national governments considering the proposals, referendums being held, and powerful global bodies like the IMF beginning to approve the idea. The idea of basic income is gaining in popularity all over the world. A March 2017 survey showed that 68% of Europeans would vote in favour of basic income in a referendum, if given the chance.

Brazil passed the Citizen's Basic Income law in 2004, committing the government to introduce basic income. The country's major Bolsa Familia cash transfer programme, introduced around the same time, provides cash to low-income families, but activists are still campaigning to get this scaled up to a universal basic income. A number of pilots have demonstrated the benefits, including a £7.80 basic income in the village of Quatinga Velho since 2008 by a Brazilian group called ReCivitas, and an increasing municipal basic income paid in local currency in the town of Marica.

Since 2008, a basic income pilot has run on and off in Otjivero-Omitara in Namibia, providing around £5 per person per month. Rates of poverty and malnutrition have plummeted, while school attendance, employment and community cohesion have increased. A strong grassroots movement for basic income has developed, led by labour and church organisations. In 2015, the chair of the Basic Income Grant Coalition was appointed as Minister for poverty eradication and social security. Progress has been intermittent, but basic income remains on the national agenda.

In June 2016, Switzerland held a national referendum to decide whether to implement a basic income sufficient to live a dignified life. Although the level of basic income was not specified in the vote, the 'Yes' campaign framed the proposed amount at an unusually ambitious level: around £1,750 per person per month. Although on this occasion the proposal was defeated, with 23% voting Yes, the referendum generated extensive worldwide media coverage and policy analysis, and has helped to significantly raise awareness of basic income among the general population.

Manitoba province, Canada, hosted an early basic income experiment called Mincome in the 1970s. A 2011 analysis showed that while the basic income was provided, hospital admissions dropped 8.5% and demand on mental health services was reduced. This has bolstered more recent support, with a basic income pilot scheme begun in 2017 in Ontario and government interest in Quebec. The ruling Liberal Party has passed a motion supporting basic income and other groups such as social workers are strongly in favour.

Four municipalities in The Netherlands have taken steps to experiment with their social security systems and explore variations that would be similar to basic income. Basic income has been debated in the national parliament, with the Liberal party and the Green Left party showing strong support.

In 2011 to 2013 a basic income of £2-3 a month was provided in parts of Madhya Pradesh, India. Villagers chose to spend the money on building latrines, buying essential medicines, and on investments like livestock and sewing machines. The unconditional nature of the scheme cut opportunities for funds to be diverted by intermediaries and ensured even the poorest were reached. In 2016 the success of the scheme was picked up by an Indian NGO, who propose the introduction of a citizens' dividend funded by the income from mining, and Government of India are showing a growing interest.

In early 2017, Finland began its major pilot of basic income. Two thousand people who were previously receiving conditional unemployment benefits now get the equivalent of $620 month with no strings attached. The experiment will run for two years, after which the government will assess its success. A poll in January 2016 found that over half of Finnish citizens supported the idea of a basic income, while less than a quarter actively opposed it.

Since 2008 a US-based nonprofit GiveDirectly has been providing cash transfers to people on very low incomes in Kenya. In November 2017 this has been expanded to full basic income pilot, where whole villages will receive transfers of around $22 per month unconditionally for up to 12 years. Outcomes are studied rigorously via comparison with control villages to understand the impact of the basic income on standard of living, employment, business start-ups, leisure, gender relations and more.

Basic income has been debated several times in the French Senate, and in October 2016 it produced a report recommending basic income pilots. In 2017 a first-round presidential candidate from the Socialist party, Benoit Hamon, ran on a basic income platform, although the specifics of his proposal more closely resembled a negative income tax as payments would be withdrawn above a certain income level.
Basic income has been debated several times in the French Senate, and in October 2016 it produced a report recommending basic income pilots. In 2017 a first-round presidential candidate from the Socialist party, Benoit Hamon, ran on a basic income platform, although the specifics of his proposal more closely resembled a negative income tax as payments would be withdrawn above a certain income level.

In the urban village of Huaidi, China, local people pooled the compensation they received in the late 1990s when local government built on parts of their farmland. With the pooled money they bought local assets, and use the proceeds to fund social services and benefits including a basic income of around £14.50 per person per month. When introduced in 1996, this was around 30% of the average income, although it has fallen to 3% due to income growth. It is reported that the basic income gives people more freedom and helps prevent social ills.

Mongolia's Human Development Fund distributes the country's mining revenues directly to every person as cash, and operates the Child Money Programme that pays around $10 a month into the bank account of every child up to the age of 17. These programmes are very similar to universal basic income, and are particularly interesting in that they are funded by commonly-held natural resources. The benefits in reducing poverty are significant, and the programmes are recognised as an innovative way to sidestep the high inequality that can often blight countries experiencing resource booms.
These real-life political possibilities for- and experiments with basic income are the result of many years of campaigning by basic income activists. Many more countries have growing social movements that are popularising the idea. The Basic Income Earth Network, an umbrella organisation for the movement, recognises active campaign groups in 29 countries from Japan to Mexico, and reports on activities in many more. Across the world, coverage and support for basic income is booming. People everywhere are recognising the potential of basic income to help solve many social, economic and environmental problems, and greatly improve our quality of life.
The much newer movement for a worldwide basic income hopes to build on the dedicated work of those who advocate for national basic income schemes like those described above.