Redesigning Money for a Better Future: Insights from a Biologist and UBI Advocate Faye Ku

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  Faye Ku

• 1 day ago

• 4 min read

Money shapes our lives in ways most of us rarely question. Yet, few understand how it was designed or how it could be redesigned to better serve all people and the planet. I’m Faye Ku, a biologist by training and a passionate advocate for Universal Basic Income (UBI). As Chair of Economic Justice at the Houston Peace and Justice Center (HPJC), a volunteer at Income Movement, and Co-Lead of Communications at the Sunrise Movement Houston Hub, I bring a unique perspective to money—one rooted in biology, anthropology, and social justice.

In this post, I want to introduce myself and share how I view money through the lens of a biologist and anthropologist, inspired by thinkers like David Graeber. I will explain why redesigning money with a guaranteed income is not only possible but necessary for a fairer, more moral society. Together, we will explore the history, design, and future of money, and how Universal Basic Income (UBI) can help us build a system that supports everyone.

1. Who I Am and Why Money Matters to Me

I earned my B.A. in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley, where I learned to see living systems as interconnected webs. This view shapes how I think about money. Money is not just a tool for buying and selling; it is part of a larger system that affects our welfare, our children’s future, and the health of our planet.

As a mom of three boys, I want to ensure they inherit a world where no one is left behind. My work with the Houston Peace and Justice Center and the Income Movement focuses on economic justice and the power of Universal Basic Income to create a fairer society. I believe money should reflect our shared values and support life, not just profit.

2. How Anthropologists and Biologists See Money Differently

David Graeber’s book Debt: The First 5,000 Years inspired me to look at money beyond economics textbooks. Anthropologists study human societies across time and space, revealing how money evolved as a social tool, not just a financial one.

• Money connects people, communities, and ecosystems.

• It has changed forms many times, from barter to coins to digital currency.

• Money’s design reflects the values and power structures of its time.

By adopting this broad view, I see money as part of a living system, like an organism that must adapt to survive. This perspective helps us understand why current money systems have flaws and how we might redesign money to better serve humanity and the environment.

3. Why Most People Don’t Understand Money’s Design

Most of us use money daily but rarely learn how it is created or what it was designed to do. Our schools do not teach the legislative process behind money creation, and even college economics courses often skip the deeper social and moral implications.

• Money is created through laws and policies, not just markets.

• Its design influences who benefits and who is left out.

• We are users, not designers, of money—yet money shapes our lives profoundly.

I am developing a curriculum to fill this gap, aimed at grade 4 and up. This curriculum will explore money’s history, design, and consequences, encouraging everyone to think critically about how money works and how it could work better.

Faye Ku and her son wearing a MATH hat

Faye Ku and her son wearing a MATH hat

4. The Structural Defects of Modern Money Systems

Modern money systems have structural problems that create inequality and instability. A global universal currency often leads to perverse incentives that harm people and the planet.

• Money creation is controlled by a few powerful institutions.

• Debt and interest create cycles of poverty and economic crises.

• Money often prioritizes profit over human welfare and environmental health.

These defects show why we need to rethink money’s design. We must build a system that supports everyone’s basic needs and encourages sustainable living.

5. How Universal Basic Income Can Redesign Money

Universal Basic Income offers a way to redesign money with fairness and morality at its core. UBI provides a guaranteed income to all individuals, ensuring no one falls below a basic standard of living.

• UBI separates money into two spheres: basic needs and market exchange.

• It creates a universal moral value: no human should be without in a society of abundance.

• UBI can reduce poverty, improve health, and support economic stability.

By integrating UBI into money’s design, we can create a system that values human dignity and shared prosperity.

6. Joining the Movement to Redesign Money

Redesigning money is not just a theoretical idea—it is a movement gaining momentum. Through my work with the Houston Peace and Justice Center, Income Movement, and Sunrise Movement Houston Hub, I invite you to join this effort.

• Learn about money’s history and design.

• Advocate for Universal Basic Income policies.

• Participate in community discussions and actions.

Together, we can build a money system that works for all people and the planet.

Money shapes our world, but we have the power to reshape money. By understanding its history, flaws, and possibilities, we can create a future where everyone shares in the wealth of our big blue spaceship home. I look forward to sharing more insights and working with you to redesign money for a better future.

If you want to learn more or get involved, please reach out through the Houston Peace and Justice Center or the Income Movement. Let’s build a fairer, more just economy together.

Thank you for reading this introduction to who I am and why I believe in Universal Basic Income as a path to economic justice.

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