Working Poor in Europe: A Partial Basis Income for Workers?

Abstract

A substantial share of the poor in European Countries are employed. That will be shown on the basis of the European Community Household Panel. Since working poor have an own income, already a partial basic income could be a means for fighting poverty of workers. I will introduce the proposal that every worker gets a quarter of the average income, which is the half of the usual poverty line, as a Basic Income. The arguments for such an PBI, its economic effects and its effect on reducing poverty will be discussed.

Keywords: working poor, poverty, basic income, Europe, ECHP

JEL Classification: H2, I3