Medborgarlön

Medborgarlön, also known as basic income or citizen’s income, is a policy proposal that guarantees every resident of a country a regular, unconditional cash payment sufficient to cover basic living expenses. The concept is rooted in the idea that a guaranteed income can reduce poverty, simplify welfare systems, and improve individual freedom and social cohesion.

The modern debate dates back to the early 20th century, with early advocates such as Thomas Paine and later economists like Milton Friedman, who suggested a negative income tax as a variant. In Sweden the term “medborgarlön” entered public discourse during the 1970s, when the Social Democratic Party considered reforms to the existing welfare state. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, several think‑tanks and political parties revived the idea, proposing pilot projects and emphasizing the potential to adapt to automation and changing labor markets.

Supporters argue that a universal, unconditional payment eliminates means‑testing, reduces bureaucracy, and ensures a safety net for all citizens regardless of employment status. Empirical evidence from pilots in Finland, Canada, and Kenya is cited to show improvements in mental health, financial stability, and, in some cases, modest increases in entrepreneurial activity. Critics contend that financing a nationwide medborgarlön would require substantial tax increases, could discourage work incentives, and might prove politically unsustainable in high‑welfare societies.

As of 2025, no Swedish municipality has implemented a full medborgarlön, but several local experiments on partial basic income have been conducted, notably in the city of Malmö and the municipality of Skellefteå. The topic remains a subject of active research, public debate, and occasional parliamentary inquiry, reflecting broader European discussions on the future of welfare in the face of technological change.