The politics of piloting. The case of minimum income schemes in European cities

EU member states have adopted Minimum Income Schemes (MIS) to prevent destitution and ensure a min-imum standard of living through means- tested income support combined with Active Labor Market Policies (ALMPs). However, the effectiveness of MIS has been hindered by limited coverage, low take- up rates, inad-equate cash transfers, strict conditionalities, and the limited impact of ALMPs. Public opinion is polarized, leading to potential policy changes. Pilot projects have emerged as a strategy to address implementation bar-riers, facilitate evidence- based policy making, and im-prove stakeholder relationships. This paper investigates the political conditions under which pilots are promoted and the effects these policy decisions have on scaling up through a qualitative analysis and comparison, using two exemplary cases, BMINCOME in Barcelona and Weten Wat Werkt in Utrecht.