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Spain to Establish Basic Income to Help Citizens Through the Coronavirus Pandemic

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by Eben Diskin Apr 8, 2020

To give its people a leg up on the harsh economic ramifications of the pandemic, Spain, the second-most touched country in the COVID-19 health crisis, is proposing a basic income policy for its low-income citizens.

Basic income would provide government payments to citizens on a regular basis, for the purpose of helping the disadvantaged and infusing money into the economy. In the short-term, this would help workers and their families stay afloat until the crisis passes and the economy rebounds. The government hopes, however, that the policy will prove successful and can remain in place long-term.

“We’re going to do it as soon as possible,” said Nadia Calviño, Spain’s minister for economic affairs, “so it can be useful, not just for this extraordinary situation, and that it remains forever.”

Although the proposal is still in its infancy, it would provide a safety net for low-income individuals. Presumably, the amount of money doled out by the government would be based on each family and individual’s income. No specific policy, amount, or date has been announced yet.

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