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Finland Launches Basic Income Experiment With Jan. 1 Cheques for Those in Pilot Project

posted by on Wednesday January 04 2017, @10:48AM   Printer-friendly
from the now-we-wait-and-watch dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Basic Income is a subject that regularly surfaces in Soylent discussions, so here's a story about Finland's impending experiment with it:

Finland has become the first country in Europe to pay its unemployed citizens a basic monthly income, amounting to 560 euros ($587 US), in a unique social experiment which is hoped to cut government red tape, reduce poverty and boost employment.

Olli Kangas from the Finnish government agency KELA, which is responsible for the country's social benefits, said Monday that the two-year trial with the 2,000 randomly picked citizens who receive unemployment benefits kicked off Jan. 1.

Those chosen will receive 560 euros every month, with no reporting requirements on how they spend it. The amount will be deducted from any benefits they already receive.

The average private sector income in Finland is 3,500 euros per month, according to official data.

Also at The Guardian and swissinfo.ch.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 04 2017, @11:39AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 04 2017, @11:39AM (#449310)

    Torrenting more will solve poverty!

  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 04 2017, @11:57AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 04 2017, @11:57AM (#449314)

    Torrenting lowers my cost of living. Now if only I could steal food and lodging in a way that evades prosecution, life would be great. I'm thinking shantytown, but the authorities keep bulldozing the shantytowns and driving out the undesirables. Why won't the judgmental taxpayers let us live in peace and squalor? Why must the people use their hired pigs against us?