My name is Jessica Chew and I am a Universal Basic Income (UBI) advocate from Australia. I am currently a fellow with The Australian Basic Income Lab and Co-Director of Basic Income Australia.
A Basic Income is a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement.
I am a data analyst by trade, with a background in International Development due to my interest in alleviating extreme poverty. I spent the first two years of my career working at a traditional International Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Cambodia whose mission was to end poverty through education.
During that time, I came across this GiveDirectly TED talk that discussed the incredible efficiency and impact of unconditional cash transfers which directly confronted my notions of working for traditional NGO anti-poverty programs.
Since then, I have adopted the stance that people are the experts of their own lives and to quote historian Rutger Bregman, ‘poverty is not a lack of character, it’s a lack of cash’. Beyond seeing UBI as an elegant policy solution to alleviating poverty, I believe it will have a positive, transformative effect on society by providing an economic foundation for individuals to choose how to best spend their lives.
Whether you are able-bodied or not, wish to work, create art, be an entrepreneur, provide care, study or volunteer in your community, your right to a universal and unconditional basic income will free you to do so.
This blog houses my writing and data projects on UBI, as well as directing readers onto further basic income resources. UBI is a growing global movement – if you live in Australia you could consider joining Basic Income Australia otherwise there are many wonderful organisations rallying for UBI around the world.
You can contact me through my blog or reach me on LinkedIn.
Guaranteeing Economic Security 