BIEN Congress 2014 “Re-democratizing the Economy”

The 15th International Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) Congress will take place on 27-29 June 2014 in Montreal.

The Congress brings together academics, activists, policy makers, political representatives, NGOs, and interested members of the general public to discuss and debate how introducing a universal and unconditional basic income relates to the theme of “Re-democratizing the Economy“

A pre-conference workshop focusing on political strategies for pushing BIG on the agenda in Canada and the United States will take place on 26 June as part of the 13th annual North-American Basic Income Guarantee (NABIG) conference.

More info at: http://biencanada.ca/congress/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/485269558223569/

**Re-democratizing the Economy**

The recent global economic crisis, and the dominant austerity response of national and international governing bodies, has vastly increased economic inequality, poverty, financial insecurity and social exclusion across the globe. Individuals and families in both the developing and developed world are experiencing tremendous vulnerability and powerlessness against an economy seemingly spiraling out of control. Many believe the time has now come to radically rethink our response to the crisis and its resulting precariousness, and the structural organization of the economic fabric in our societies. BIEN Congress 2014 aims to explore the role a universal and unconditional basic income could play in re-democratizing our economy.

**Confirmed Speakers**

• Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), United Nations
• Roberto Gargarella, Professor of Constitutional Theory and Political Philosophy at the Universidad de Buenos Aires and Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professor at University College London
• Renana Jhabvala, President of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Bharat, India
• Joe Soss, Cowles Chair for the Study of Public Service at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
• Guy Standing, Professor in Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London and Co-President, BIEN
• David Stuckler, Senior Research Leader at University of Oxford and Research Fellow of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Chatham