This is what one of the world’s largest experiments in basic income looks like

From Meaghan Tobin and Márvio Dos Anjos / Rest of World: Mumbuca is a digital currency used in Maricà’s basic income program. Residents, with few eligibility requirements, can qualify for a monthly stipend to purchase goods and services using a smart phone or a card. The currency runs on the digital platform E-dinheiro and can only be spent in the city limits. Individuals cannot swap Mumbucas for national currency, but businesses can after a 48-hour waiting period and a 1% fee. Local currencies, which are popular in Brazil, help residents increase personal savings and, with increased stipends during the Covid-19 pandemic, allowed informal workers to stay home.

Click here to read the full story on Rest of World.

Issue Areas:

Alternative Forms of Income, Wellbeing Economics

Impact Areas:

Creating New Economic Paradigms

Actors:

Government

Communities Served:

—

Strategies:

Easing Economic Burdens for Individuals, Reallocating Government / Public Financing

Success Factors:

Addressing Underlying Issues, Providing Cash Instead Of Goods/Services, Using Creative Financing

Geographic Region:

South America

Countries:

Brazil

Date:

July 23, 2020

More Resources:

Conversation with Mafah Cornelius Kuta

Mafah Cornelius Kuta is a regenerative farmer and former principal in Cameroon. Mafah’s goal is to create and establish a regenerative agriculture school and regenerative agriculture movement by equipping farmers to regenerate land within culturally relevant and ecologically-appropriate contexts. Mafah...

Conversation with Steve King

Steve King is the Executive Director of the Oakland Community Land Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing land, housing, and other community-serving real estate assets from the speculative market and stewarding them with, and for the permanent benefit of,...

This is what one of the world’s largest experiments in basic income looks like

From Meaghan Tobin and Márvio Dos Anjos / Rest of World: Mumbuca is a digital currency used in Maricà’s basic income program. Residents, with few eligibility requirements, can qualify for a monthly stipend to purchase goods and services using a...

Conversation with Natalia Linou

Natalia Linou (Linos) is a policy specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Her current role as part of UNDP’s HIV, health and development team is focused on the prevention of non-communicable diseases and on developing an emerging area...

Conversation with Sabrina Habib

Sabrina Habib is a social entrepreneur & global leader advocating for quality childcare, early childhood development, and women’s economic empowerment. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kidogo, the leading childcare network in Kenya, serving over 38,000 young children in...

Less is more: Lithuanian company’s experiment with shorter working hours

From Domantė Platūkytė / LRT: A company in Lithuania cut back the work day from eight to six hours and noted an increase in morale without any negative impact on productivity. Employees reported a better work-life balance, reducing their stress...