Program Overview

Seminar "Recent Advances in Basic Income Policy Research" SS23

About

This seminar discusses recent advances in basic income policy research, based on guest lectures and in-depth reading of key articles published in the past two years. The course accommodates up to 12 students, facilitating discussion. There are no formal requirements for students willing to participate: the only requirement is a critical but constructive perspective on the basic income proposal and a commitment to engage with readings and participate in the guest lectures and class discussion.

Aims and Objectives

This seminar introduces students to basic income as a policy proposal, focusing on material that fits the broad field of policy studies. The main objective is to provide students with insight into the challenges that basic income faces as it enters the policy process. The course will also discuss strategies proposed by basic income scholars to overcome these challenges.

Format and Structure

The course is based on 6 important recently published articles that students are required to read in advance and will be examined in detail in class discussion. Each seminar discussion will be preceded by an online guest presentation by the author(s). The seminar takes place in two parts:

• PART A: An online presentation and discussion with the author/guest lecturer, moderated by Jurgen De Wispelaere.
• PART B: A 90-minute seminar in which students engage in an in-depth discussion of the article presented and reflect on some of the previous discussion with the author/guest lecturer.

Duration and Schedule

The course is worth 6 ECTs for a total of approximately 20 teaching hours. The course takes place over 3 weeks, with each week featuring two 60-minute guest lectures, followed by two 90-minute class discussions the next day. The total workload is approximately 180 hours.

Guest Lectures and Class Discussions

The following guest lectures and class discussions are scheduled:

• Monday 24/4 (18.00-19.00): Prof. Milena Buchs, Professor of Sustainable Welfare, University of Leeds (UK)
  • Class discussion: Tuesday 25/4 (16.15-18.00) HS 1136 (Kollegiengebäude I)
• Wednesday 26/4 (17.00-18.00): Prof. Femke Roosma, Assistant Professor in Sociology, Tilburg University (NL)
  • Class discussion: Thursday 27/4 (16.15-18.00) R 00 016 (Wilhelmstraße 26, EG)
• Friday 28/4 (18.00-19.00): Prof. Yannick Vanderborght, Professor of Political Science, Université Saint-Louis Bruxelles (BE)
  • Class discussion: Tuesday 2/5 (16.15-18.00) HS 1136 (Kollegiengebäude I)
• Wednesday 3/5 (18.00-19.00): Prof. Pilar Gonalons-Pons, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • Class discussion: Thursday 4/5 (16.15-18.00) R 00 016 (Wilhelmstraße 26, EG)
• Monday 8/5 (18.00-19.00): Prof. Tim Vlandas, Associate Prof. of Comp. Social Policy, University of Oxford (UK)
  • Class discussion: Tuesday 9/5 (16.15-18.00) HS 1136 (Kollegiengebäude I)
• Wednesday 10/5 (18.00-19.00): Dr. Leire Rincón, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Humboldt University Berlin (DE)
  • Class discussion: Thursday 11/5 (16.15-18.00) R 00 016 (Wilhelmstraße 26, EG)

Preparation and Readings

Students are expected to read two articles per week, which will be made available via ILIAS. Recommended readings in advance of starting the class include:

1. Jurgen De Wispelaere and Lindsay Stirton (2004), "The Many Faces of Universal Basic Income", The Political Quarterly 75(3), pp. 266-274.
2. Philippe Van Parijs and Yannick Vanderborght (2017), "The Instrument of Freedom", in Basic Income: A Radical Proposal for a Free Society and a Sane Economy , Harvard University Press.

Course Assessment

The course will be assessed on the basis of two components:

1. Short observations emailed to the Professor in advance (15% of the final grade)
2. Class participation (10% of the final grade)
3. A written assignment critiquing one of the discussed articles (75% of the final grade)

Target Groups

The course is targeted at:

• M.Sc. VWL (PO 2014)
  • Constitutional Economics and Competition Policy
• M.Sc. BWL (Public and Non-Profit Management)
  • Public Management
  • Public Sector Economics
  • Volkswirtschaftslehre
• M.Sc. in Economics
  • Economics and Politics