Basic Income in the Age of Crisis
Dr Guy Standing
Co-Founder, Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN)
The ABLF Talks | The ABLF City | May 18, 2021
Speaker Introduction
Dr. Guy Standing – Visionary Economist and Architect of Economic Justice
Dr. Guy Standing is a globally respected economist, academic, and policy innovator, known for his work on labor markets, inequality, and social security. As co-founder of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) and a Professorial Research Associate at SOAS University of London, he has become one of the most consistent and persuasive global voices advocating for Universal Basic Income (UBI). His vision bridges economics, ethics, and ecology, arguing that economic security must be seen as a fundamental human right, not a conditional privilege. With decades of scholarly research, real-world pilot projects, and public engagement, Dr. Standing has advanced UBI from a radical idea to a credible policy solution for 21st-century governance.
Moderator: Resham Kotecha, Policy and Strategy Specialist
Date: May 18, 2021
Prepared by: The ABLF Research Council
Event: The ABLF Talks, hosted virtually at the ABLF City
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Executive Summary
At a pivotal session of the ABLF Talks Live, Dr. Guy Standing presented a compelling case for Universal Basic Income as an essential pillar of economic justice in the post-pandemic world. Framing UBI as both a moral imperative and a practical policy tool, he explored its capacity to address rising inequality, labor precarity, and systemic disempowerment. Drawing on global evidence, ecological insights, and political economy, Dr. Standing redefined UBI not as a handout but as a social dividend, an unconditional, guaranteed income grounded in shared public wealth. The session marked a decisive moment for repositioning UBI within global development, democratic renewal, and climate resilience.
Sign in to unlock the library of the ABLF Insightfolio
The ABLF Insightfolio features researched, knowledge-led whitepapers that capture the strategic perspectives and insights of Asia’s foremost thinkers, policymakers, business leaders and social scientists.
Derived from the impact-led dialogues at the ABLF Talks, these policy-shaping documents are designed to inform, inspire, and ignite action across all sectors, from inclusive growth and sustainability to innovation and digital transformation.
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