Opponents of basic income have been repeating for years that “free money” has been depriving people of motivation to work. Meanwhile, a new, three -year study in Germany shows something completely different.
In the project “Mein Grundeinkommen “ (“My basic income”) 122 randomly selected participants took part. Each of them received approx. PLN 4,560 every month, without any conditions and liabilities. At the same time, a control group of 1580 people was observed who did not receive additional support. Scientists emphasized that the percentage of working people remained “almost identical” both in the control group and among participants receiving basic income.
Conclusions? Program participants not only did not give up work, but also worked exactly the same as the others, on average 40 hours a week.
“Contrary to popular belief, receiving basic income did not prompt the respondents to abandon professional activity” – emphasize the authors of the report.
The concept of unconditional basic income (UBI – Universal Basic Income) assumes that the state regularly pays all citizens a certain amount of money, regardless of their financial situation. This is to be a supplement to income, not his replacement.
In recent years, the idea has also gained popularity in the USA. In many American cities and counties, the so -called guaranteed income programs (Guaranteed Income), which are mainly directed to low -income groups, such as single mothers, black women or transgender people.
Critics compare these initiatives to “socialism”. In 2024, state legislatures in southern Dakota, Iowa and Idaho voted prohibitions of introducing similar initiatives at the local level. Republican state senator John Wiik, the author of one of the laws, said that he was “a socialist idea that redistributes hard -earned money.”
– Guaranteed income programs undermine the dignity of earning and lead to dependence on the government – said Wiik during the committee meeting.
The German study showed the opposite. Participants who received basic income, maintained employment, improved their financial situation, more often supported others and declared a clear improvement in mental well -being.
“Basic income allows people to build permanent financial facilities, and at the same time prompts more generosity towards others,” notes the authors of the study.
According to prof. Jürgen Schuppa, one of the main researchers of the project, the results make you revise many beaten beliefs.
– I think that in the face of the necessary reconstruction of social systems we should take into account all possible reforms, including basic income – he said.
The article is a translation from the American edition of Business Insider.
