A 8,000 square meter poster is pictured on the Plainpalais square in Geneva, Switzerland May 14, 2016. The committee for the initiative for an "Unconditional Basic Income" has crowdfunded the "world's biggest poster", posing the question "What would you do if your income were taken care of?"
Denis Balibouse—Reuters
Voters in Switzerland on Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to introduce a guaranteed basic income for everyone living in the country.
Nearly 77% of voters opposed the plan that would have promised a monthly income of 2,500 Swiss francs—or $2,563—per adult and 625 francs per child under 18 no matter how much they work, Reuters reports. Only 23% of voters supported it, final referendum results show.
Switzerland is the first country to open up the idea to a vote, according to Reuters, which noted that opponents of the controversial proposal argued it was unfair, too costly and would discourage people from working.
[Reuters]
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Exclusive: The Making of the U.S. Military's New Stealth Bomber
- Your Next House Could Be Made on an Assembly Line
- The Legal Implications of the Debate Over Whether 'Extreme Racism' Is a Mental Illness
- Why European Countries Are Giving Teens Free Money To Spend on Books, Music, and Theater
- Republican Skepticism of Trump Has Never Been Higher
- Column: The U.S. Prison System Doesn't Value True Justice
- How Green Is the Qatar World Cup’s Outdoor AC?
- 16 Funny and Whimsical White Elephant Gifts Under $25
- The 5 Best New TV Shows Our Critic Watched in November 2022
