Citizens in Switzerland are to vote on whether the country will become the first to guarantee a basic monthly income next month. Swiss voters will decide whether every citizen and legal resident will earn $2,600 tax-free per month, on the June 5 elections. Sputniknews.com reports: “This is a great idea,” Chloe Hubert, a student at the University of Geneva, told USA Today. “I only work on weekends, so this income would really help.” Switzerland allows any proposal to be placed on the ballot, so long as a minimum of 100,000 signatures are obtained. This particular initiative was put together by a group of intellectuals. Given that it’s one of the wealthiest countries on Earth, Switzerland is in a unique position to enact proposals that have only been vaguely discussed in other countries. Proponents argue that a basic income motivates workforces and stabilizes economies. The full amount would not be given to every citizen. If an individual makes $2,000 per month, for instance, they would be given $600 more by the government to ensure that basic income needs are met. Those who earn more than the basic sum would not receive a government stipend, but $2,600 of their salary would not be taxed. The proposal has its critics. “[This would] put at risk a system that motivates people to work and get training,” [...]