Vereniging Basisinkomen

The Vereniging Basisinkomen (VBI, from Dutch, "Association for Basic Income") is an association of activists, scholars and politicians in The Netherlands that advocates for the introduction of a basic income. The organization was created in 1991, replacing an earlier group with a similar mandate but more restricted membership. It is a member organization of the Basic Income Earth Network.

Origins

The idea of a basic income was supported by the GreenLeft political party, [GroenLinks (1992), "Tijd voor zelfstandigheid" (Time for independence; includes a proposal for a gradual introduction of a basic income)] who included a proposal for a partial basic income in their 1998-2002 electoral program. [GroenLinks, "Verkiezingsprogramma 1998-2002" "(electoral programme 1998-2002)"] After the Dutch government rejected a proposal by its scientific council to introduce a partial basic income in 1985 [Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid (1985), "Waarborgen voor Zekerheid", Staatsuitgeverij, The Hague ("Scientific Council for Government Policy, "Guarantees for Security")] , in 1987 the 'Werkplaats Basisinkomen' ("basic income workplace") was established by several political parties and trade unions. [Toxopeus J, "Invoering basisinkomen is geen dwaasheid" WTF 76r, Trouw, 6 January 1989 "(introduction basic income is not foolishness)"] Four years later, the 'Werkplaats' was replaced with the Vereniging Basisinkomen [cite web | url = http://www.uclouvain.be/cps/ucl/doc/etes/documents/1994a.AU__plein_emploi__Reflets_.pdf | format = pdf | title = Allocation universelle et plien emploi: l'ineluctable alliance | language = French | author = Van Parijs, Philippe | accessdate = 2008-04-19 | | date = 1994-02-01 ] to accommodate members from the general public. [cite web | url = http://www.etes.ucl.ac.be/BIENbackup/BIEN'sNationalNetworks.html#NE/ | title = National Networks on Basic Income: Netherlands VERENIGING BASISINKOMEN | publisher = Basic Income Earth Network | date = 2002-09-16 | accessdate = 2008-04-18 ]

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. [BIEN, "Newsletter of the Basic Income European Network", nr. 24, 1996] VBI members also helped organize the 7th Biannual International Congress of the Basic Income Earth Network in Amsterdam in 1998. [Robert J. van der Veen, Loek Groot (eds.) (2000), "Basic Income on the Agenda. Policy Objectives and Political Feasibility", Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press] [cite web | url = http://www.etes.ucl.ac.be/bien/Resources/Congress1998.htm | accessdate = 2008-04-18 | title = BIEN 7th Congress, 10-12 September 1998, Amsterdam | publisher = Basic Income Earth Network | year = 2001 ]

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.cite web | url = http://www.basisinkomen.nl/publicaties/vbi_brochure.pdf | format = pdf | publisher = Vereniging Basisinkomen | year = 2004 | title = Basisinkomen - goed voor de mèns "(basic income - good for humanity; promotional brochure)" | accessdate = 2008-04-18 ] 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.

The association has been recognized by the Dutch political party Natuurwetpartij for their work on the feasibility of a basic income in The Netherlands. [cite web | url = http://www.natuurwetpartij.nl/download/programma98.pdf | format = pdf | title = Natuurwetpartij gedachtengoed en programma | language = Dutch | publisher = Natuurwetpartij Nederland | accessdate = 2008-04-18 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.basisinkomen.nl/ Vereniging Basisinkomen]