芬蘭：無論工作與否每人每月發(fā)560歐保障金

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.

近期，芬蘭開始實行一項激進改革試驗：為2000名公民提供年保障收入，且無論這2000名公民工作與否，保障資金都將照常支付。

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

該項目于本月啟動，首次嘗試采用“通用最低標準”。無論該項目的保障對象是否工作、財務與收入狀況如何，每月都將收到560歐元(587美元)的保障金。

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.

該項目旨在為勞動者提供更大的安全保障，尤其是在科技進步不斷降低社會對人類勞動需求的情況下。同時，失業(yè)人群可以去做一些零工而不用擔心因此而失去補助金。

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.

項目的初期將持續(xù)兩年。雖然項目的保障對象是隨機挑選的，但必須是領失業(yè)補助或收入補貼的人。他們通過該項目獲得的保障金將不會被征稅。

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

如果項目初期效果良好，可能會將所有芬蘭成年公民納為保障對象。

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.

芬蘭政府認為，從長遠角度看，該項目將節(jié)省國家資金。芬蘭的福利體系復雜、運行開銷大，該項目可簡化福利官僚體制，節(jié)省開支。

The change could also encourage more jobless people to look for work, 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.

通過該項改革，失業(yè)者不必擔心再就業(yè)后失去失業(yè)補助，因而將鼓勵更多失業(yè)者積極尋找工作。當下，一些失業(yè)人士擔心微薄的收入將導致失業(yè)補助資格被取消，不敢找臨時兼職。

"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.

“意外收入不會減少最低收入保障，所以就業(yè)和......自主創(chuàng)業(yè)無論如何都值得嘗試。”芬蘭社會保險機構Kela的法務部主任瑪居卡•圖魯寧說道。

The idea is not unique to Finland.

不過，這一做法并非芬蘭獨有。

Advocates point to the Italian city of Livorno, which started a guaranteed basic income for the city's 100 poorest families in June. The scheme was extended to further 100 families starting Sunday. They are receiving €500 ($525) per month.

支持者提到意大利西部港市里窩那，6月，該城市為100個最貧困的家庭提供最低收入保障，并于上周日開始將資助家庭增加為200個，被資助對象每月可收到500歐元(525美元)的保障金。

Pilot programs are also being discussed in Canada, Iceland, Uganda and Brazil.

加拿大、冰島、烏干達和巴西也在積極討論此類試點計劃。

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

去年，瑞士曾提議為所有成年公民每月提供2500美元保障金，但最終在全民公投中被否決，75%以上的選民反對該舉措。

The best example of a guaranteed income program might actually be in the US. Alaska has been giving out annual cash payments to all residents since the 1980s, a dividend from the state's oil revenue.

而最低保障收入項目的最佳典范則為美國。自20世紀80年代開始，阿拉斯加州就開始為本州所有居民發(fā)放年度現(xiàn)金補助，而這筆費用來源于該州的石油收入。

BIEN, a group that campaigns for universal income, describes it as the first "genuine universal basic income system."

為“通用最低收入”做宣傳的BIEN組織評價芬蘭這一項目為首個“真正的通用最低收入系統(tǒng)”。