Could Colombia’s Protests Derail its Basic Income Experiment?
By
Leonie Rauls
The tax reform sparking unrest aims to expand social protections for some Colombians.
An ambitious effort to expand Colombia’s social safety net hit a snag on April 28 when thousands took to the streets to protest the government’s plan to pay for it. The government’s latest attempt at tax reform would help expand and make permanent a basic income support program introduced during the pandemic, known as Ingreso Solidario. The proposal, however, would raise taxes on many Colombians to fill a $4.8 billion fiscal hole – a tough sell in tough times. In addition to expanding value-added taxes and reducing income tax exemptions, the reform would lower tax...
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