The universal basic income as a source of inspiration for designing the future of social protection systems? A counter-agenda

Abstract

The case for a universal basic income helps to reflect on what could be done to bring social protection into the 21st century, but does not itself provide the most convincing solution to the difficulties rightly pointed out. Still, this plea is a fruitful source of inspiration for other developments than the one proposed. Three proposals are made in this respect: reducing the influence of household composition on the amount of social benefits, making the possibility of combining a social benefit with other financial resources more flexible, and relaxing the work integration requirements imposed in return for the granting of rights.