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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: 2, Interesting) by DmT on Wednesday January 04 2017, @03:00PM

    by DmT (6439) on Wednesday January 04 2017, @03:00PM (#449373)

    Next to Finland there is a country called Estonia. A lot of people travel from Estonia (sometimes giving up higher skilled work) to go and do simple work, that the people of Finland are not willing to do. Just because it pays more.

    Minimum wage in Estonia is 430 euros (= janitor gets net 370€), average net wage is a little over 1000€ euros in the capital (a table of different regions: http://dmt-invest.blogspot.com.ee/2016/11/net-wage-in-estonia-1q-2015-2q-2016.html [blogspot.com.ee] ).

    So lets say they institute basic income. And there is free labor movement inside the European Union. Who would stay in Estonia (cleaning toilets or similar) for 370€ if they get 560€ of basic income, after a short ferry ride to the next country?

    Average wages can be different, because many people can not speak the language, but basic income ... seems like a part of the population would definitely move away from Estonia.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 04 2017, @06:49PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 04 2017, @06:49PM (#449472)

    Pretty sure this UBI wouldn't be given to anyone who asks, it likely will require citizenship of Finland at the least.