芬蘭：無論工作與否每人每月發560歐保障金

不用工作就有錢拿，聽上去就和天上掉餡餅一樣不可能，但是這種不勞而獲的好事就發生在芬蘭。目前該項目還在試驗階段，保障對象爲2000人，如果效果良好將會把所有芬蘭成年公民納爲保障對象。難怪芬蘭會被評爲世界幸福感最高的十大國家之一。羨慕嫉妒恨吧，地球人！

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：爲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.
該項目於本月啓動，首次嘗試採用“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.
該項目旨在爲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，失業人羣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.
項目的初期將持續兩年。雖然項目的保障對象是隨機挑選的，但必須是領失業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徵稅。

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爲保障對象。

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.
芬蘭政府認爲，從長遠角度看，該項目將節省國家資金。芬蘭的福利體系複雜、運行開銷大，該項目可簡化福利官僚體制，節省開支。

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，失業者不必擔心再就業後失去失業補助，因而將鼓勵更多失業者積極尋找工作。當下，一些失業人士擔心微薄的收入將導致失業補助資格被取消，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，所以就業和......自主創業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，這一做法並非芬蘭獨有。

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裏窩那，6月，該城市爲100個最貧困的家庭提供最低收入保障，並於上週日開始將資助家庭增加爲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，瑞士曾提議爲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範則爲美國。自20世紀80年代開始，阿拉斯加州就開始爲本州所有居民發放年度現金補助，而這筆費用來源於該州的石油收入。

BIEN, a group that campaigns for universal income, describes it as the first "genuine universal basic income system."
爲“通用最低收入”做宣傳的BIEN組織評價芬蘭這一項目爲首個“真正的通用最低收入系統”。