Hundreds of Swiss sign up for unconditional income

With more than enough willing participants, the experiment with the unconditional basic income in the village of Rheinau near Zurich is a step closer to reality.

About 800 people have applied, as Mayor Andreas Jenni told Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA on Monday. Over the course of the day, the definite number will be announced after any invalid applications are thrown out.

The minimum needed for the experiment is 650 people. Then it will just be a matter of finding enough money: CHF3-5 million ($3.1-5.2 million) from private individuals and foundations.

Participants would receive an unconditional basic income of CHF2,500 per month for one year. But those who earned more than that, either through employment or benefit payments, would have to pay the basic income back.

Filmmaker Rebecca Panian is planning a documentary about how the project affects the town on the Rhine river in northern Switzerland.