Conchalore Universal Basic Income Pilot Program

"*For three weeks, the citizens of Conchalore have received a weekly stipend of three stacks of iron ingots, made possible by the Conchalore UBI Pilot Program and our glorious premier...*"
—ratatoing8990
The **Conchalore Universal Basic Income Pilot Program**, also known as the **Conchalore UBI Pilot Program**, was an experimental economic program conducted by the government of Conchalore, a constituent government within the Server Federation, from December 12-26, 2020 (Day 1, Year 31 AK – Day 5, Year 33 AK). The first UBI program in server history, it provided a weekly stipend of three stacks of iron ingots to all Conchalorian citizens. Primarily, the program was conducted to determine whether UBI would cause any adverse effects to the economy. On December 30 (34:4), Conchalorian Premier ratatoing8990 announced that the program caused "no measurable iron inflation". On January 7, 2021 (36:2), the UBI program was expanded to the national level.

## Background

The idea for a UBI pilot program which would eventually expand to the entire nation was first proposed by ratatoing8990 to Server Federation President MalachiBrown523 on December 4, 2020 (29:3). At the time, ratatoing8990 was serving as both the premier of Conchalore and the Secretary of Economics and Industry under the MalachiBrown523 administration. He later told *The Newport Report*, "No Conchalorian will live in poverty on my watch."

## Description

The pilot program was initiated on December 12 (31:1) and ran for three weeks, with Conchalorian citizens receiving a total of three payments of three stacks of iron ingots. The source of the program's funding was classified as a "government secret" by Premier ratatoing8990 and President MalachiBrown523. Rumors that the program was funded by an iron farm, originally denied by both players, were later confirmed by the president at the January 2021 Server Federation Presidential Debate.

To test for inflation, participants were reportedly asked to estimate the value of multiple commodities, including cobblestone, diamonds, and concrete, before and after the UBI program. After the program concluded on December 26 (33:5), the relative value of iron in the Conchalorian economy reportedly increased by 13% over the course of the program, instead of decreasing as some skeptics had predicted.

The results of the Conchalore UBI Pilot Program later proved influential in the implementation of the Federal Universal Basic Income Program.

## Criticism

While the Conchalore UBI program originally enjoyed widespread public support, questions were raised about the source of the program's funding. On December 27, 2020 (34:1), BuzzPort published an article speculating that the UBI program was being funded by an iron farm, and criticizing ratatoing8990 for abusing villagers. "The villagers never get a break," wrote IITheRecyclerII; "their suffering is endless and a product for us to consume. I theorize that the UBI system will be funded through this cycle. The allegations of villager trafficking were initially denied by Lore Party leadership.

On December 26, During the January 2021 Server Federation presidential election, the Conchalore UBI Pilot Program and the supportive Lore Party were heavily criticized by crustyceans, the Commoners Party presidential nominee, for their alleged violations of villager rights. At the January 2021 Server Federation Presidential Debate, incumbent President MalachiBrown523 confirmed the existence of the iron farm and defended the Lore Party's role in villager trafficking, but denied the accusations of villager abuse. *The Newport Report* later wrote that some of his opponents saw MalachiBrown523's position as "the final blow to his campaign", though he later went on to defeat crustyceans in the election. The article continued: "Evidently, the president's position did nothing to sway Lore Party voters."