by Stanislas Jourdan | Feb 28, 2015 | News
By including a paragraph mentioning “basic income” in a letter to the ministers of the eurozone, SYRIZA’s government seems to be looking forward to examining the possible implementation of a national basic income scheme. But the details of the scheme remain completely unknown for the moment.
Last wednesday, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis sent a letter to all the finance ministers of the euro zone including a list of reforms the Syriza government commits to implement, in an attempt to get an extension of the bailout program the country is currently bound to.
The very expected list of reforms sent last wednesday includes a very ambiguous paragraph mentioning the concept of a guaranteed basic income:
Establish a closer link between pension contributions and income, streamline benefits, strengthen incentives to declare paid work, and provide targeted assistance to employees between 50 and 65, including through a Guaranteed Basic Income scheme, so as to eliminate the social and political pressure for early retirement which over-burdens the pension funds.
The sentence was immediately picked by Business Insider’s Tom Hirt who seems to be assuming that the Greek government is actually planning to implement a basic income “granted to individual citizens, without means testing or having a work requirement”.
While the article went viral on the internet, we still do not know what exactly the Greek finance minister had in mind when he included the term “Guaranteed Basic Income scheme” in the letter, especially as the sentence sends mixed feelings on whether the plan would include all the population or just a targeted age group, and if it would include conditions or not.
This would not be the first time the term ‘basic income’ has be confused with similar yet different ideas, such as the guaranteed minimum income which is usually understood as a means-tested scheme, attached to work requirement, rarely fully universal, and not granted individually – as opposed to BIEN’s definition of the basic income.
So far, Syriza has never publicly discussed or pushed for the idea of the universal basic income, although it did try to pass a legislative initiative in favour of a means-tested minimum income back in 2005 – unsuccessfuly. As a matter of fact, the idea of basic income does not seem to have spread so much among the party’s membership.
Noteworthily, Greece is one of the few EU countries which do not have yet a guaranteed income scheme.
In november 2014, minimum income pilots projects were started in Greece. It concerns 13 municipalities all over greece, in which 7% of the population of each municipality was selected with criteria (income and unemployment).
Those programs are part of the memorandum of understanding between the Greek government and the so-called Troika (IMF, ECB, and the EU Commission) in an attempt to push Greece towards the implementation of a minimum income.
Interestingly, Greece’s letter to the EU also promises to “Evaluate the pilot Minimum Guaranteed Income scheme with a view to extending it nationwide.” However, the newly elected minister of labor Panos Skourletis has already put on hold the pilots, soon after taking his new position.
While the current political situation in Greece might turn out as an opportunity for basic income, there was no big win just yet. We will look forward to get more information from the actual intentions of the new government.
Credit picture CC Asteris Masouras
by Karl Widerquist | Feb 28, 2015 | News
On 5 February 2015 the Manitoba Institute for Policy Research of the University of Manitoba hosted an event entitled “Working towards a Basic Income for Manitoba and Canada”, as part of its Policy, Pizza & a Pint Series.
![https://i0.wp.com/wfpquantum.s3.amazonaws.com/images/photostore/large/15932315.jpg?resize=457%2C344&ssl=1](https://i0.wp.com/wfpquantum.s3.amazonaws.com/images/photostore/large/15932315.jpg?resize=457%2C344&ssl=1)
Evelyn Forget -the Winnipeg Free Press
The session featured Evelyn Forget (Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba), Jurgen De Wispelaere (Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University), and Jessica Dumas (Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce, Winnipeg). The evening’s programme was moderated by Shannon Sampert, Perspectives and Politics Editor, Winnipeg Free Press.
Videos of the session can be found at:
Part 1 – Evelyn Forget: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4HCLPjyQaQ
Part 2 – Jurgen De Wispelaere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCtLn2B3f98
Part 3 – Jessica Dumas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8WI76tolEA
Part 4 – Moderated Questions with Shannon Sampert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArATeDX5vpc
![Jessica Dumas](https://jessicadumas.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/jd4.jpg?w=240&h=300&resize=240%2C300)
Jessica Dumas
The basic (guaranteed) income model of economic security for all has been gaining attention in policy circles across Canada. This model would provide a minimum income for all Manitobans and Canadians instead of the government’s current piecemeal approach to social assistance and income support programs.
The panel reviewed Manitoba’s experience with basic income through the ‘Mincome’ pilot project based in Manitoba in the late 1970s, and discussed its potential for implementation in the current climate.
by Stanislas Jourdan | Feb 17, 2015 | News
Ahead of the next general elections in April, the Green Party of Finland has reiterated its support for a basic income policy and updated its model.
Last saturday, the board of the Green league (Finnish Green Party) presented its political platform for the next general elections, which included a proposal for a basic income in Finland.
In line with the current level of social security systems in Finland, the party has estimated the level of basic income at 560€ for all adults. It would replace most of the existing minimum social benefits such as the unemployment benefit and the minimum parental allowance. The party, who supports basic income for a long time already, has updated its model and has made the details available on its website.
The program was adopted last sunday at the Party’s general meeting.
79% of Finns support a basic income policy
Basic income is becoming a uniting topic in Finland. A recent public opinion poll conducted by e2, the think tank of the Finnish Centre Party and the market research company Taloustutkimus. The survey concluded that 79% of Finns support a basic income policy if it “guarantees minimum subsistence, reduces bureaucracy and encourages work and entrepreneurship”. 1268 people replied the poll. The support was highest among young age groups and pensioners. Voters of the Green Party and the Left Alliance are also the most strong supporters for basic income. The lowest support for the policy is found among the Christian Democrat party and the farmers.
During the national citizens’ initiative for basic income in 2013, another opinion poll showed that 54% of the Finns supported basic income. This could confirm a positive evolution of the public support for basic income, however the question was formulated in a different way, which may explain the difference.
The Green League of Finland is the fifth political force in Finland, with around 8% of voters set to back the party, according to recent electoral polls. The centrists party of Finland, which is also in favor of basic income pilots, currently leads the electoral polls with 25.4% of votes intentions. It has won a lot of public support recently.
Last september, the leader of the Centre party has pushed the idea of basic income pilots in several municipalities. The proposal was immediately backed by the Greens, the Left Alliance and even by some conservatives such as Alexander Stubb, prime minister and leader of the National Coalition Party (conservatives).
The parliamentary elections will take place on April 19th.
by Karl Widerquist | Jan 7, 2015 | Research
This opinion piece discusses results of the recent Basic Income pilot project in India.
Renana Jhabvala, “No conditions apply.” The Indian Express, December 9, 2014.
![The CTs enabled children to go to school, often switching from a non-functional government school to a private one. -The Indian Express The CTs enabled children to go to school, often switching from a non-functional government school to a private one. -The Indian Express](https://i0.wp.com/images.indianexpress.com/2014/12/cash.jpg?resize=480%2C267&ssl=1)
The CTs enabled children to go to school, often switching from a non-functional government school to a private one. -The Indian Express
by Josh Martin | Dec 26, 2014 | Research
[Josh Martin]
In this opinion piece in an Indian newspaper, Guy Standing, who was one of the driving architects behind the Indian basic income pilot projects in the past few years, argues for a basic income as a better alternative to the large subsidies in place that are aimed to help those in poverty buy goods at discounted prices. Standing points out the inefficiencies of the subsidy programs and then promotes the three main effects of the basic income: it improves personal and community welfare, stimulates growth, and harbors an emancipatory value that boosts the other two effects.
Guy Standing, “Cash transfers can work better than subsidies”, The Hindu, 6 December 2014.
![necessary?“The Public Distribution System acts as a deterrent to local food production.” Picture shows a woman showing her ration card to purchase subsidised rice in Rayagada, Odisha.— Photo: AP (Source: The Hindu) necessary?“The Public Distribution System acts as a deterrent to local food production.” Picture shows a woman showing her ration card to purchase subsidised rice in Rayagada, Odisha.— Photo: AP (Source: The Hindu)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/02234/6th_guy-standin_6T_2234734e.jpg?resize=318%2C212&ssl=1)
necessary?“The Public Distribution System acts as a deterrent to local food production.” Picture shows a woman showing her ration card to purchase subsidised rice in Rayagada, Odisha.— Photo: AP (Source: The Hindu)