Guy Standing

Guy Standing is a renowned British labour economist, professor, and scholar, born on 9 February 1948. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, after earlier studies at the University of Sussex and the University of Illinois People Pill. From 1975 to 2006, he worked at the International Labour Organization, where he directed the Socio‑Economic Security Programme and helped develop the influential Decent Work Index Innovation Zero 2025+4+4+4. Standing later held academic positions at Monash University and the University of Bath, before becoming a Professorial Research Associate at SOAS, University of London, as well as a co‑founder of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) Basic Income Earth Network+12+12Yale University Press+12.

Central to Standing’s work is the concept of the precariat, a new and insecure social class shaped by globalisation, unstable labour, and low wages. His influential book The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class (2011) explores how this group lacks economic and cultural rights, offering a rigorous critique of modern income distribution systems WIRED+9+9Goodreads+9. Over decades he has championed unconditional basic income as a means of securing economic justice and freedom across societies. His book Basic Income: And How We Can Make It Happen lays out the theory, global pilots, objections, and rationale behind making basic income a reality WIRED+14Internet Archive+14earthbound.report+14.

Standing is known for incisive and evocative quotes capturing his socio‑economic philosophy. He has said: “Without the freedom to make ‘mistakes’, people cannot learn to take control of their lives successfully.” Goodreads+1Goodreads+1 Another powerful reflection from him asserts: “The income distribution system constructed in the 20th century has broken down, and it will not come back.” +2+2BrainyQuote+2 And on collective action: “Collective action remains the best way of renewing the march towards the great trinity of liberty, equality, and solidarity.” +2BrainyQuote+2BrainyQuote+2 These quotes articulate Standing’s deep belief in economic security, social solidarity, and transformational policy through basic income.