In July 2013, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades announced the implementation of a “guaranteed minimum income,” but the president’s language was self-contradictory. The program was supposed to be a “guaranteed minimum income,” assuring “a dignified living, irrespective of age, class or professional situation.” But he also said, “The single but absolutely necessary precondition is that they don’t refuse to accept offers for employment and to participate in the policies of continuous employment that are determined by the state.”
The name of the program and the first quote imply that the program would be a negative income tax—a form of basic income guarantee with some features in common with an unconditional basic income. However, the second quote demonstrates that it is neither a negative income tax nor an income guarantee of any kind. If recipients are held to a work requirement they are not guaranteed to have an income. Those who refuse employment or who are unable to take employment but unable to prove that inability cannot receive the income that is supposedly guarantee.
Whether the program (which will take effect in 2014) involves a practical step in the direction of a basic income guarantee at all is questionable. However, it does represent a rhetorical step toward a basic income guaranteed. It seems to show that politicians are finding it necessary to use the language of guaranteed incomes or of universality. This development might be an indication that universality is becoming more politically acceptable. Some politicians want to have it both ways to say that support is guaranteed for all but to restrict it for only those who fulfill conditions.
Several articles about the Cypriot program are online include two on Basic Income News:
Angela Mitropoulos, “Basic Income, Workfare & affirmations of productivity,” S0metim3s.com, August 16, 2013.
Stanislas Jourdan, “Cyprus to implement a ‘guaranteed minimum income,’” Basic Income UK, August 8, 2013.
Basic Income Initiative in Europe, “Cyprus’ Guaranteed Minimum Income plan and the basic income,” Basic Income Initiative in Europe, August 1, 2013.
BIEN, “CYPRUS: ‘President announces ‘Guaranteed Minimum Income’ program,” Basic Income News, August 5, 2013.
Malcolm Torry, “OPINION: Means-testing in Cyprus,” Basic Income News, November 4, 2013.