Economic Policy Research Institute

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The Economic Policy Research Institute is hosting the ELEVENTH BIEN CONGRESS. The Congress forms part of the Conference that will take place on 2-4 November 2006 at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

CONFERENCE THEME: "UNIVERSALISM STRENGTHENS DEVELOPMENT"

The fundamental justification for Basic Income rests in its support for human dignity-it is a right that all societies must respect. Nevertheless, many economists and social policy analysts are researching the developmental impact of universal income grants. In part, researchers are responding to opponents who claim that a Basic Income is uns ustainable and fosters dependency. More importantly, analysts are finding that universal income programmes effectively promote people's accumulation of human-capital, health, skills and nutrition. Basic Income strengthens labour markets, providing a springboard to more sustaining livelihoods. Basic Income is developmental. The main theme of th e 2006 Basic Income Earth Network will explore how strengthening universalism in social protection will foster a more developmental State, with greater economic freedom and opportunity for all People.

Following the success of the 2004 Congress in Barcelona and the transformation of the Basic Income European Network into the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), BIEN and the Economic Policy Research Institute invite you to spend a few days on the tip of Africa to participate in the first international "Earth" BIEN Congress.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL: The Conference has a twin focus: to strengthen demands for universal provision of social protection and to illuminate the impact of universalism on social and economic development. We invite proposals for presentations on all aspects of Basic Income. We encourage proposals related to the following themes, but will end eavour to accommodate all proposals.

Themes for formal presentations:

1. Strengthening Universalism strengthens Development
2. Income Security and HIV/AIDS
3. Basic Income and Race, Gender and Class Inequalities
4. The Dynamics of Universal Basic Income
5. The Labour Movement and Universal Social Protection
6. Care Work and Basic Income
7. Basic Income, Human Rights and Justice for all
8. Prospects and Challenges faced by in-country programmes
9. Issues in Financing and Implementation of Basic Income

Please submit your proposal, together with the proposal form, to papersbien@epri.org.za by 15 July 2006. All final papers submitted by the 1 September 2006 deadline will be considered for the Basic Income Studies (BIS) Journal Essay Prize.

CONVENE A PANEL: If you would like to propose a panel on a theme not listed above, please submit a 300 word summary by 30 April 2006. Panels will be reviewed by 30 May. Your proposal should introduce the theme, justify its relevance for the broader goals of the congress and indicate who you would like to be on the panel. If accepted, y ou will be asked to screen abstracts for inclusion in your panel and to work with the organising committee in finalising the conference programme. Abstracts must be submitted by 15 July and full papers by 1 September.

Please submit proposals for panels, together with the panel proposal form to papersbien@epri.org.za by 30 April 2006.

PRESENT A WORKSHOP/POSTER DISPLAY: For this Conference we are adding another dimension to the proceedings. While the main focus of the Conference will be on the academic and formal papers presented in plenary and panel discussion sessions, we invite participants who wish to engage in a less formal manner to put forward proposals for the workshops/poster displays. The workshops/poster displays will focus on issues of mobilisation and implementation of Basic Income. The workshops will be practical and some even hands-on. In this way we hope to embrace the new challenges countries are experiencing in accepting and promoting the ideals and ideas of Basic Income in the world.

Please submit your proposals for workshops or poster displays, together with the proposal form, to papersbien@epri.org.za by 15 July 2006.

Please direct any questions to infobien@epri.org.za.