Comparison of minimum income programs in OECD countries

Posted on May 1st, 2010 by msharma.

The report can be found at:

http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2009doc.nsf/LinkTo/NT00008AF2/$FILE/JT03276695.PDF

Almost all OECD countries operate comprehensive minimum-income programes for working-age individuals, either as last-resort safety nets alongside primary income replacement benefits, or as the principal instrument for delivering social protection. Such safety-net benefits aim primarily at providing an acceptable standard of living for families unable to earn sufficient incomes from other sources. This paper provides an overview of social assistance and other minimum-income programes in OECD countries, summarizes their main features, and highlights a number of current policy challenges.

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