Download or read book Minimum Income Schemes in Europe written by International Labour Organisation and published by International Labour Organization. This book was released on 2003 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book investigates the paradox of rich countries of Western Europe, who have high levels of poverty whilst proclaiming its eradication as one of the primary social and economic goals. It looks at how policies often do not achieve their goals, why countries need mechanisms to reduce wage inequality and why they choose to provide universal benefits instead of systems of selective benefits targeted at the poor. Along with cross-countries comparisons, the volume also presents analysis of the minimum income in France, Portugal, Italy, Finland, Ireland, Belgium, and Greece.