The Swiss are called Sunday, June 5 to decide on the creation of an “unconditional basic income” for everyone, employed or unemployed, a unique project that arouses heated debate in a country where one worships the value of work.
However, according to recent polls, the proposal, submitted by a non-partisan group unlikely to pass. The latest poll by the gfs.bern institute, 71% of Swiss should vote no. Not surprising when one remembers that in 2012, the Swiss had already refused to take their paid leave for 4 to 6 weeks, fearing a decrease in their competitiveness.
Read also: The “universal income” between utopia and pragmatism
The popular initiative “for an unconditional basic income” (RBI) proposes to pay a basic income each month all Swiss and foreigners living in the country for at least five years, whether or not they have a job.
“an old dream, a little Marxist”
the amount of this income remains to be determined, but the group behind the initiative suggests to distribute 2,500 Swiss francs (2,260 euros) per adult – a very small amount for living in Switzerland – and 650 Swiss francs for each minor. This would require additional budget of about 25 billion Swiss francs (22.6 billion euros) per year, funded by new taxes.
“This is a dream long exists “, but that has become ” indispensable “ address the high unemployment caused by the increasing automation, says one of the fathers of the initiative, Ralph Kundig. The government and most political parties denounce a utopian project and too expensive.
“This is a dream, a little Marxist. Full of good feelings but without irrefutable economic thinking “, told Agence France-press director of the International Center for Monetary and Banking Studies in Geneva, Charles Wyplosz. For him, no doubt, if the link between pay and work is cut, “people will do less” .
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