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The likelihood of a basic income in Germany
Author(s) -
Opielka Michael
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international social security review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.349
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1468-246X
pISSN - 0020-871X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-246x.2008.00317.x
Subject(s) - basic income , german , unemployment , economics , welfare state , solidarity , labour economics , public economics , welfare , demographic economics , macroeconomics , political science , market economy , law , archaeology , politics , history
Abstract The article discusses whether the likelihood of Germany introducing a basic income policy — that is independent of labour market participation — has increased in recent years. A brief description of the main elements of the German welfare state is followed by a critical analysis of more recent developments in guaranteeing a basic income, not least with the 2003 merger of unemployment benefits and social assistance. Since then the resulting fears of downward mobility felt even by the middle classes have reignited the 1980's debate about a basic income. Two models (the “basic income guarantee” and the “solidarity citizen's income”) are used to discuss practical system design problems and the chances of realizing a basic income policy.