Prof. Dr. Alfons J. Weichenrieder is a Professor of Economics and Public Finance at Goethe University Frankfurt . His research focuses on international corporate taxation, fiscal federalism, public debt, redistribution policies, and tax morality. He serves on multiple advisory boards including the German Ministry of Finance and Leibniz ScienceCampus MaTax . As Managing Editor of FinanzArchiv , he contributes to public finance analysis. Education : Habilitation (2001) and Ph.D. (1995) from University of Munich Research Themes : Tax havens, EU fiscal policy, corporate tax incentives, environmental FDI interactions His recent work explores pro-rich inflation dynamics , green dividend mechanisms , and taxation-induced capital distortions . Collaborative projects span institutions like Oxford University , Norwegian School of Economics , and Deutsche Bundesbank . Scientific Recognition Top-100 German researcher in economics & finance (RESEARCH.COM, 2025) International Research Fellow, Oxford CBT CESifo Research Fellow Member, Norwegian Center for Taxation
Yu-Ling Chang is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Social Welfare. Her research examines the relationships between poverty, inequality, and social safety net programs, with a focus on welfare-to-work systems, unemployment insurance reforms, and cross-national comparisons of social protection policies. She has secured significant grants from institutions like the Administration for Children and Families and the Upjohn Institute. PhD in Social Welfare from the University of Washington (2016) MSW and BSW from National Taiwan University Her work spans U.S. state-level policy analysis and global collaborations with institutions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Switzerland. Key themes include racial equity in CalWORKs, gendered impacts of unemployment insurance, and the role of financial capability in poverty reduction. She has published extensively on post-Great Recession welfare dynamics and cross-state/federal policy variations. Recent research explores unconditional basic income (UBI) in Taiwan and the U.S., ecosocial policies addressing climate change, and pandemic-era welfare reforms. Her scholarly contributions have been recognized with awards such as the Hellman Fellows Fund and the Upjohn Institute’s Early Career Research Award. Keynote speaker at the Global Welfare Regime Project (2023) Advisor for peer-reviewed journals and conferences Active in professional networks including the East Asian Social Policy Research Network and Scholars Strategy Network
Andrew Lister is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Studies at Queen's University, part of the Faculty of Arts and Science. His research focuses on distributive justice, reciprocity, and classical liberalism, with a particular emphasis on public reason and political liberalism. Lister holds a PhD from UCLA and previously taught at Concordia University, conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Montreal's Centre de recherche en éthique. His work explores themes such as the coherence of public reason, the critique of unconditionality in welfare policies, and the intersection of Hayekian and Rawlsian political thought. Education: BA, McGill University MA, McGill University PhD, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Research Interests: Lister's work bridges normative political theory and applied ethics, with key areas including: Reciprocity in distributive justice Liberal neutrality and minority rights Public reason and political legitimacy Critiques of capitalism and property-owning democracy Recent Trends in Publications: His articles analyze contractualist frameworks, theology's role in egalitarianism, and the reciprocity objection to unconditional basic income (UBI). He critiques Rawlsian theory's alignment with capitalist systems and advocates for institutions that balance economic fairness with motivational reciprocity. Advising & Grants: Lister supervises graduate students in distributive justice, democratic theory, and public reason. Though no explicit grants are listed, his interdisciplinary work suggests involvement in projects funded by institutions like FRQSC (during his postdoc). Labs/Teams: Collaborations include the University of Virginia's Rawls 50th Anniversary Conference and the PREPOD seminar on property-owning democracy.
Ole Rüter is a Researcher at the Center for Religious Studies (CERES) at Ruhr University Bochum, where he is part of the Plugether research project since 2025. Concurrently, he pursues a PhD at Humboldt University Berlin’s Chair of Ethics and Hermeneutics, focusing on the moral assessment of unconditional basic income in Germany since the 1980s. His research integrates social ethics and anthropology, examining basic income models through justice theory. Rüter studied Protestant theology at universities in Göttingen, Dublin, and Berlin (2015–2024), with a focus on public theology, digital religion, and the church’s role in pluralistic societies. His interdisciplinary interests were deepened through summer schools in South Africa. Professional Roles: Research Associate, Plugether Project (CERES, Ruhr University Bochum, 2025–present) PhD Candidate, Humboldt University Berlin (2025–present) Student Inspector, Stiftung Johanneum (2024–present) Assistant, Deutsche Jazzunion e.V. (2024–2025) Research Interests: Rüter’s work bridges theology and social sciences, addressing contemporary issues like digital religion, public theology, and the ethical dimensions of socio-economic policies. His PhD project critiques basic income frameworks through normative ethical lenses, emphasizing justice and societal inclusion. Other Activities: Beyond academia, Rüter is an active jazz drummer, reflecting his engagement with cultural and communal life. His career blends scholarly rigor with practical experience in student housing, jazz advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Prof. Dr. Ute Fischer is a sociologist and economist at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, specializing in civil society dynamics, social policy, and gender studies. Her research explores topics such as polarization in crises, community organizing, unconditional basic income (UBI), and civic engagement. She leads projects like the 'Civil Society - Polarizations through Crises' initiative (2021–present) and has been funded by institutions like FH Dortmund. Her work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing participatory democracy and social cohesion. Key research focuses include UBI’s social potential, gender dynamics in labor markets, and the role of community structures in crisis management. Publications span over four decades, addressing themes from post-reunification East Germany labor markets to modern issues like Corona policy opposition and digital work conditions. Her teaching includes courses on social policy and community development in the 2025 summer semester. Recent Projects : 'SoR Sponsors' (2022–2024), Corona-related civic engagement studies in Unna (2020–2022), and migrant women’s entrepreneurship (2009–2010). Awards : None explicitly listed, though her extensive peer-reviewed publications and funded projects highlight academic impact. Grants : Multiple projects funded by FH Dortmund, including work on sanctions in social welfare (2014–2015) and gender-specific career paths (2003–2006). Labs/Teams: Active in the 'Citizens’ Network' initiative (2017–2018) and collaborates with Dierk Borstel through a blog analyzing societal trends and policy implications.
Dr. Sascha Füllbrunn is an Associate Professor in the Economics Department at the Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University. He holds a Diploma in Economics and Management (2004) from the University of Hannover and a Dr. rer. pol. (2009) from the University of Magdeburg. Previously, he served as a research fellow at the Luxembourg School of Finance (2008–2012) and the Max Planck Institute of Economics in Jena. His research focuses on experimental methods applied to decision-making, sustainable finance, unconditional basic income, and interdisciplinary projects like the Healthy Brain Study. Research interests include experimental economics/finance, behavioral economics, and interdisciplinary studies. Notable projects include the 2024 Experimental Sustainable Finance Symposium (funded by Fritz Thyssen Stiftung) and the Healthy Brain Study collaboration with Radboudumc and Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics. He has received awards for research excellence (2015) and teaching (2014). Teaching includes courses on behavioral economics, experimental finance, and societal challenges in economics. He is an editor of the Handbook of Experimental Finance (2022) and has secured grants from the British Academy and others. His work addresses complex topics such as agency-driven misreporting and non-bank financing for SMEs.
Dr. Sascha Füllbrunn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University. He holds a Diplom from the University of Hannover (2004) and a Dr. rer. pol. (PhD) from the University of Magdeburg (2009), where he received the prize for the best PhD thesis. His research focuses on experimental methods applied to financial and economic decision-making, including sustainable finance, decision-making on behalf of others, and complexity economics. He has been involved in interdisciplinary projects like the Healthy Brain Study, a collaboration between Radboud University, Radboudumc, and the Max Planck Institute. Education: Diplom in Economics and Management, University of Hannover (2004) PhD in Economics (Dr. rer. pol.), University of Magdeburg (2009) His research interests span experimental finance, behavioral economics, and sustainable finance. Recent projects include the Experimental Sustainable Finance Symposium (2024) and studies on agency-driven misreporting in economic experiments. He has received awards such as Researcher of the Year (2015) and best teacher of the year (2014). Current teaching includes courses like Behavioral and Experimental Economics and Societal Challenges in Economics. He advises on projects funded by organizations like the Fritz Thyssen Stiftung and the Ministry of Finance.
Gernod Röken is a Lecturer in the Department 06 – Educational Science and Social Sciences at the University of Münster. His work focuses on sociopolitical education, democratic school development, and teaching methodologies in social sciences. He supervises research on topics such as judgment competence in pedagogy instruction and controversy-driven education, exemplified through debates like unconditional basic income. His research interests include structured pedagogical judgment, professional knowledge for prospective teachers, and the sociological perspective in political education. He designs seminars addressing democratic education, interactivity in teaching processes, and overcoming 'opinion traps' in pedagogy. No specific awards or recent publications are listed in the provided text. His responsibilities include curriculum development, seminar leadership, and exploring pedagogical strategies for contemporary educational challenges.
Hans-Christoph Schmidt am Busch is Professor of Philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy within the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the Technical University of Braunschweig, where he has been employed since 2013. Previously, he held visiting professorships at the universities of Magdeburg, Münster, and Vechta from 2010 to 2013. His academic career includes significant research stays as a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at Northwestern University, Georgetown University, and Columbia University, as well as a fellowship at the Cluster of Excellence 'Religion and Politics' at the University of Münster during 2020-2021. His research focuses primarily on Political Philosophy, Social Philosophy, Legal Philosophy, and the History of Philosophy, with particular expertise in Hegelian philosophy, critical theory, and the philosophical foundations of economics. His work consistently engages with recognition theory, social philosophy, and the intersection of philosophical concepts with contemporary social and economic issues. Schmidt am Busch completed his doctorate at the University of Münster on Hegel's concept of labor and his habilitation at Goethe University Frankfurt on 'Recognition' as a Principle of Critical Theory, establishing his scholarly foundation in German Idealism and critical social theory. His publication record reveals a clear evolution in research interests while maintaining connections to his foundational work. Early publications focused on Hegel and Saint-Simonism, while more recent work has increasingly addressed contemporary issues like inheritance rights, bequeathing, and intergenerational justice. His scholarly output demonstrates remarkable breadth across languages (German, French, and English) and consistent engagement with both historical and contemporary philosophical debates. Among his notable achievements is his membership in the Scientific Committee of the International College of Philosophy since 2023 and his organization of significant academic conferences including 'The Philosophy of the Market' (2014), 'The Right to Bequeath' (2019), and 'Freedom, Justice, and Esteem: Perspectives from an Unconditional Basic Income' (2022). These conferences reflect his commitment to bridging theoretical philosophy with pressing contemporary social issues. Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Member of the Scientific Committee of the International College of Philosophy (2023-present) Schmidt am Busch has made substantial contributions to academic discourse through his numerous monographs, edited volumes, and journal articles. His work on recognition theory has been particularly influential, connecting Hegelian philosophy with contemporary critical theory. His research on basic income, inheritance rights, and market philosophy demonstrates his ability to apply philosophical frameworks to contemporary socio-economic debates, establishing him as a significant voice in contemporary political and social philosophy.
Neil Howard is a Reader (Associate Professor) in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath, where he serves as Director of the Centre for Development Studies. He co-leads international policy experiments in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Hyderabad, India through the CLARISSA and WorkFREE projects, and leads the Bath UBI Beacon initiative to establish Bath as a national center for Universal Basic Income scholarship. His ORCID is 0000-0003-2328-8230 and he can be reached at N.P.Howard@bath.ac.uk. Howard's research focuses on the intersection of social protection, labor governance, and development. As an anthropologist of development turned social protection scholar, he ethnographically examines exploitative and 'unfree' labor targeted by the Sustainable Development Goals, with particular attention to Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) combined with community organizing. He frequently collaborates with Terre des Hommes on participatory action research with child migrants, street-connected children, and child workers. His work challenges conventional paradigms in anti-trafficking discourse, advocating for politically engaged approaches that respect children's agency. His extensive publication record shows consistent focus on UBI experiments, child labor interventions, and ethical research practices. The work demonstrates strong engagement with community perspectives across Global South contexts, emphasizing participatory approaches to social protection and labor governance. Recent publications particularly highlight cash plus interventions in Bangladesh and ethical considerations in UBI experimentation. Vice-Chancellor's Engage Awards for Public Engagement (2025) Howard is open to supervising new students and serves as an external examiner for PhD theses. His research is supported by significant funding including ESRC IAA, European Research Council, Humanity United, and Mustardseed Trust grants totaling projects through 2026. He actively engages with policy communities through the Basic Income Earth Network (where he serves on the Executive Committee) and regular public presentations on UBI and social protection. Howard co-leads the CLARISSA project in Bangladesh (https://clarissa.global/) and WorkFREE project in India (https://www.work-free.net/), both combining UBI with participatory community organizing. Through the Bath UBI Beacon initiative (https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/bath-beacon-universal-basic-income/), he aims to establish the University of Bath as the leading national center for UBI scholarship in the UK, fostering interdisciplinary research on basic income and its societal implications.
Miska Simanainen is a PhD student in Sociology at the Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, affiliated with the Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA). Holding a Master's Degree in Political Science from the University of Helsinki, his research examines the effects of unconditional cash transfer policies on income, work incentives, health, and well-being using data from the Finnish Basic Income Experiment. Research Focus Demography and population dynamics Social policy analysis on low-income populations Economic impacts on public health services Welfare economics and cash transfer mechanisms Subjective well-being and health outcomes Academic Affiliation Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA), Stockholm University Department of Sociology Education Master's Degree in Political Science, University of Helsinki
Nicholas H. Smith is Professor and Honorary Professor at Macquarie University's Centre for Workforce Futures within the School of Humanities. His philosophical research examines concepts of work, justice, and social freedom in contemporary societies. Research Focus: Professor Smith's work bridges philosophical anthropology and social theory, investigating how work structures impact human flourishing. Current projects explore unconditional basic income models, ethical dimensions of work organization, and justice frameworks for contemporary economies. Active Projects: Unconditional Basic Income, Work, and the Fabric of Social Justice Macquarie University Research Centre for Agency, Values and Ethics The Fabric of Social and Global Justice Publication Analysis: Recent scholarly output demonstrates sustained engagement with theories of social freedom and justice, particularly examining how economic structures constrain or enable human development.
Prof. Dr. Sascha Liebermann is a Professor of Sociology at Alanus University of Arts and Society, serving as Head of Department, Head of BA PhASE, and Chairman of the Senate. His work focuses on methodology of case-reconstructive research (especially objective hermeneutics), educational processes, family sociology, welfare state analysis (with emphasis on unconditional basic income), professionalization theory, political sociology, and sociology of work. He leads research projects such as the 2010-2013 study on solidarity and political communitization regarding unconditional basic income. Affiliations: Alanus University of Arts and Society (Professor, Department Head), Co-founder of the Institute for Hermeneutic Social and Cultural Research (2001–2007), and the Initiative 'Freiheit statt Vollbeschäftigung' (since 2003). Education & Teaching: Teaches at universities in Germany (TU Dortmund, Goethe University Frankfurt) and Switzerland (University of Zurich, FH Nordwestschweiz). Continuing education courses on case understanding. Research Interests: Core areas include interpretive patterns in social research, welfare state reform, and the societal implications of unconditional basic income. His work bridges theory and practice through methodological innovation and policy analysis. Grants & Collaborations: Led third-party funded projects like the DFG ‘Normalismus’ research group and the Ruhr University Bochum project on unconditional basic income. Collaborates internationally with institutions like ETH Zurich. Publications: Over 30 books, articles, and book chapters on sociology, political theory, and social policy. Recent focus on unconditional basic income’s role in modern democracies and its challenges to traditional labor norms. Awards: No specific prizes mentioned, but recognized for contributions to hermeneutic social research and policy advocacy. Labs/Teams: Leads the Alanus ‘Forschungswerkstatt’ for data analysis using objective hermeneutics. Active in interdisciplinary research networks on work, education, and social policy.
Mouna Thiele is a Professor at the Faculty of Business Studies of Hochschule Düsseldorf (University of Applied Sciences). She specializes in International Economic Relations , Environmental Economics , and Monetary Policy , with a focus on social policy issues like unconditional basic income, migration, poverty, and the economic impact of macroeconomic developments on enterprises. For winter semester 2025/26, she teaches Introduction to Microeconomics , Applied Economics (in-person on Tuesdays and Thursdays), and Open Economy Macroeconomics (summer semester 2026). She co-leads the BBA part-time/full-time program and offers thesis supervision on topics ranging from climate policy instruments (e.g., CO2 border adjustments), inflation-indexed contracts, economic resilience, digital currencies, demographic challenges, and EU industrial strategies. Contact: Office hours on Thursdays (10:30–12:00) via email or Teams, Room 3-4-024, Münsterstraße 156, 40476 Düsseldorf, Tel: +49 211 4351-3421.
Yannick Vanderborght is a Professor of Political Science at the Catholic University of Louvain and a member of the Hoover Chair of Economic and Social Ethics and the Research Center in Political Science (CReSPo) . He serves as an associate editor of Basic Income Studies and focuses on comparative politics, social policy, and basic income research. Research interests include comparative social policy , labor market dynamics , and unconditional basic income . His academic work spans 25 years of analyzing basic income feasibility across OECD countries, with a focus on Belgium, the Netherlands, and Japan. Key trends in his 15 most recent articles emphasize the intersection of basic income and social investment policies , exploring their potential for labor market reform and poverty reduction in globalized economies. He supervises a diverse group of PhD and MA students , including Pierre-Etienne Vandamme , Mahua Agrawal , and Jean-Michel Chaumont , and contributes to international policy debates through books, conference presentations, and research reports.
