The Slovenian experience with three methods for defining the minimum income

This chapter examines the Slovenian experience with three methods for defining minimum income standards. It suggests that all three approaches were expert-led, normative, and were intended to cover “basic needs.” It also talks about the approach on developing basic needs for reference budgets from the late 1970s and early 1980s, which was based on expert deliberations and analysis of family expenditure surveys that indicate consumptions patterns. The chapter explains how the food basket was determined by nutrition experts while a normative approach was adopted for heating and lighting, clothing and footwear, home appliances and furniture, and leisure. It discusses the “food-share” method, which is based on the cost calculations for a minimal diet with a proportion added for other non-food necessities.