Latest Report on Finland's Universal Basic Income Trial Says It Makes People Happier

[Judi Lynn]

MIKE MCRAE 8 MAY 2020

Freely giving away money to thousands of people with no strings attached was always going to make Finland's 2017 Basic Income experiment a focus of study for sociologists, psychologists, politicians and economists for years to come.

Following the experiment's termination in 2018, multiple studies have been more or less consistent in their conclusions. People tend to be happier and more confident, but aren't necessarily keen to hit the pavement in search of employment.

This latest report published by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health doesn't make any challenging new claims. But at a time when the world is in the grip of an employment calamity, its conclusions are a timely reminder to reconsider the benefits of economic safety nets.

As a quick recap, at the beginning of 2017 Finland's government rolled out a trial run of a guaranteed tax-free income of €560 (roughly US$590) per month to 2,000 randomly selected citizens.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/latest-report-on-finland-s-universal-basic-income-trial-suggests-we-d-be-happier-with-it

[KT2000]

1. Happiness is not such a selling point

in the US. Fear and prejudice are the big sellers. Americans don't want happiness, they just want to complain.

[JI7]

2. exactly, the main thing blocking progress in the US are Bigots who don't want blacks, mexicans,

gays etc to get something or be happy.