OECD Insights Blog (19.06.2017) An Indonesian proverb says that a firm tree does not fear the storm. After the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997/98, Asian economies recovered with strong economic growth (on average 4.2% annually), which over the past decade has contributed to a decline in “absolute poverty” – here defined as those with incomes of less than USD 2 per day.

alwihdainfo (30.05.2017) Le gouvernement réfléchi à un système de protection sociale au Tchad, qui permettrait de garantir une couverture de santé à des millions de tchadiens qui en sont dépourvus.

RTD (30.01.2017) La firme Uber est un employeur comme un autre qui ne peut se soustraire aux obligations patronales. Selon la Suva, la plate-forme en ligne doit ainsi payer les cotisations aux assurances sociales.

ipsnews /19.06.2917) Every year, one million Kenyans are driven below the poverty line by healthcare-related expenditures. Poverty predisposes them to disease and slows all aspects of growth in the economy.

latribune.fr (22.06.2017) Annoncé en décembre dernier, le programme de protection sociale du Nigéria a besoin d'argent frais. L'ambitieux projet qui cible une réduction conséquente du taux de pauvreté nécessite près de 500 millions de dollars. La Banque mondiale semble prête à soutenir Abuja.

FAO (2017) This is the policy brief drawn from a longer review that analyses and summarizes impact evaluation findings that focus on the interaction between agricultural interventions (including rural extension services, rural development, natural resource management, access to markets, subsidized credit, investment grants, access to improved seeds and fertilizer subsidies), and social protection interventions, with specific attention to social assistance such as cash transfers and public works.

The Independent (23.06.2017) Participants receive €560 (£473) every month for two years and do not have to demonstrate that they are actively seeking work

Ontario has announced it could soon be sending a monthly cheque to its residents as it plans to launch an experiment testing the basic income concept. While officials in the Canadian province are yet to release any specific details of the project – including how much will be given to residents who participate – the finance ministry has published a report confirming the government’s intention to roll out the experiment.

Finland has been giving 2,000 of its citizens an unconditional income for the last five months and some are already seeing the benefits, reporting decreased stress, greater incentives to find work and more time to pursue business ideas. The scheme is the first of its kind in Europe and sees participants receive €560 (£473) every month for two years. Recipients do not have to demonstrate that they are seeking employment and they are not required to regularly report to authorities to prove they still need the payment, as is the case with standard unemployment benefits.

A promise of equal opportunity

“Basic income” would be an amount sufficient to secure basic needs as a permanent earnings floor no one could fall beneath, and would replace many of today’s temporary benefits, which are given only in case of emergency, and/or only to those who successfully pass the applied qualification tests. UBI would be a promise of equal opportunity, not equal outcome, a new starting line set above the poverty line.