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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) by aristarchus on Saturday January 07 2017, @12:31AM

    by aristarchus (2645) on Saturday January 07 2017, @12:31AM (#450516) Journal

    I now have reliable intelligence that shows "Runaway1956" to be a 16-year-old female working in a "fake-news" operation in Macedonia. She has evaded detection for so long because she is almost a perfect facsimile of an older middle-aged redneck hillbilly male from the Southern United States of America. Reports suggest that the "fake-news" operation was in fact set up several years ago by Russian operatives paving the way for Donald Trump to be elected President of the US. Not only a traitor, but not even a real person. Cool story, bro!

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  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday January 07 2017, @12:51AM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday January 07 2017, @12:51AM (#450526) Journal

    When you've run out of sensible things to say, always fall back on personal attacks. That's the ticket, Aristarchus. Chapter six in the SJW manual, right?

    --
    We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.