Authorities in Finland are considering giving every citizen a tax-free payout of €800 ($1185) each month.

Under proposals being draw up by the Finnish Social Insurance Institution (Kela), this national basic income would replace all other benefit payments, and would be paid to all adults regardless of whether or not they receive any other income.

Close to 69 per cent of the Finnish population favours the idea of a national basic income, a poll shows. Credit:New York Times

Unemployment in Finland is currently at record levels, and the basic income is intended to encourage more people back to work. At present, many unemployed people would be worse off if they took on low-paid temporary jobs due to loss of welfare payments.

More than 10 per cent of Finland's workforce is currently unemployed, rising to 22.7 per cent among younger workers.