UBI Without Borders: Social Income as a Model of Transnational Solidarity in a Fragmenting World

Kerrin Dieckmann

In 2016, Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to implement an unconditional basic income (UBI) for all. While the idea sparked global conversation, skepticism lingered — especially around one persistent concern: affordability.

A Will and a Way to End Poverty

Social Income

The Swiss nonprofit Social Income asks, “What would change if you gave away 1% of your income every month? Not much, right?” It is based on these questions and a strong belief in universal basic income (UBI) that Sandino Scheidegger founded the organization, which works toward alleviating global poverty through direct cash transfers to the impoverished citizens of Sierra Leone. Social Income is taking advantage of the burgeoning use of mobile banking platforms in Africa and is alleviating poverty by facilitating “human to human” assistance.