Finland has started a radical experiment: It’s giving 2,000 citizens a guaranteed income, with funds that keep flowing whether participants work or not.

The program, which kicks off this month, is one of the first efforts to test a “universal basic income.” Participants will receive 560 euros (US$587) a month — money that is guaranteed regardless of income, wealth or employment status.

The idea is that a universal income offers workers greater security, especially as technological advances reduce the need for human labor. It will also allow unemployed people to pick up odd jobs without losing their benefits.

The initial program will run for a period of two years. Participants were randomly selected, but had to be receiving unemployment benefits or an income subsidy. The money they are paid through the program will not be taxed.

If the program is successful, it could be expanded to include all adult Finns.

The Finnish Government thinks the initiative could save money in the long run. The country’s welfare system is complex and expensive to run, and simplifying it could reduce costly bureaucracy.

The change could also encourage more jobless people to look for jobs, because they won’t have to worry about losing unemployment benefits. Some unemployed workers currently avoid part-time jobs because even a small income boost could result in their unemployment benefits being canceled.

“Incidental earnings do not reduce the basic income, so working and self-employment are worthwhile no matter what,” said Marjukka Turunen, the head of the legal unit at Kela, Finland’s social insurance agency.

The idea is not unique to Finland.

Advocates point to the Italian city of Livorno, which started a guaranteed basic income for the city’s 100 poorest families in June. They are receiving 500 euros a month.

Switzerland last year considered giving every adult citizen a guaranteed income of US$2,500 a month, but the plan was rejected in a referendum. More than 75 percent of voters were against the measure.

近期，芬兰开始实行一项激进改革试

验：为2000名公民提供年保障收入，且无论这2000名公民工作与否，保障资金都将照常支付。该项目本月启动，首次尝试采用“通用最低标准”。无论该项目的保障对象是否工作、财务与收入状况如何，每月都将收到560欧元（587美元）的保障金。

该项目旨在为劳动者提供更大的安全保障，尤其是在科技进步不断降低社会对人类劳动需求的情况下。同时，失业人群可以去做一些零工而不用担心失去补助金。项目的初期将持续两年。虽然项目的保障对象是随机挑选的，但必须是领失业补助或收入补贴的人。他们通过该项目获得的保障金不会被征税。

如果项目初期效果良好，可能会将所有芬兰成年公民纳为保障对象。

芬兰政府认为，从长远角度看，该项目将节省国家资金。芬兰的福利体系复杂、运行开销大，该项目可简化福利官僚体制，节省开支。

通过该项改革，失业者不必担心再就业后失去补助，因而将鼓励更多失业者积极找工作。当下，一些失业人士担心微薄的收入将导致失业补助资格取消，不敢找临工。

“意外收入不会减少最低收入保障，所以就业和......自主创业无论如何都值得尝试。”芬兰社会保险机构Kela的法务部主任玛居卡•图鲁宁说道。

不过，这一做法并非芬兰独有。

支持者提到意大利西部港市里窝那，6月，该城市为100个最贫困的家庭提供最低收入保障，被资助对象每月可收到500欧元的保障金。

去年，瑞士曾提议为所有成年公民每月提供2500美元保障金，但最终在全民公投中被否决，因为75%以上的选民反对。

(Chinadaily.com.cn)

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

   【官僚机构】guānliáo jīgòu bureaucracy an administrative policy-making group

    【公投】gōngtóu referendum a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to vote on a particular proposal