Did Finland's basic income experiment work? - BBC News

Finland has just completed a major basic income experiment where 2,000 unemployed people were given €560 (£490) a month for two years, instead of their unemployment benefit.

The basic income was paid with no strings attached. Recipients weren't required to seek or accept jobs but still received the payment if they found a job.

The Finnish government wanted to see if this financial incentive encouraged people to get jobs or start businesses.

The BBC followed two participants, Tanja and Tuomas, for two years to see what impact free money had on their lives.

Producer: Erika Benke. Camera: Richard Perry and Maxim Lomakin.

[Daniel-Strain]

Let me save the viewer six minutes of their life: The answer to the question in the title of the video is not in the video. No statistics were presented. They talked to a few people and we heard their feelings about their anecdotal situations (in other words, no useful data). The last sentence in the video is, the Finland government is analyzing the results (which we don't yet have).

[inkostar]

Finland. The country where even unemployed people speak a second language fluently

[Longtack]

Premature! No data, no analysis, no conclusion except "a woman wants good cheese and a journo likes a beer."

[aranteen]

you just want the good cheese ... i respect that

[mikemike]

As a Finn living abroad, I really wanted to know the results of this experiment. This video provided me jack shit.

[Ritaaw]

As a finnish person with mental illnesses I would be dead already if the authorities wouldnt have stepped in. My therapy gets paid by the government and so does my rent. This might seem crazy in other countries but Finland tries to care of people who are sick and I and many more are grateful for that.

[OfficiallyZOK]

Would have been a much better article if you followed at least 10 different people who also live in other places in Finland and are studying and working or have disabled family members who need special care etc, this video article didn't even give the viewers 10% understanding of the issue and didn't even bring any conclusions, we expect more of the BBC, you can do better.

[darrylblueberry]

Hasn’t had a job in 3 years... grabs a pint from the pub 😂😂😂 love it

[polarisgemini]

This is what governments around the world need to be doing, conducting experiments for what works instead of arguing like idiots about our ideologies.
Maybe this will work, or maybe it will not, but the fact that the govt is open to running tests is what is important.

[TANQ]

I've met these people. They're the "I cant find a job doing and then they basically just give up. Bro, if you're unemployed as a journalist for 2 to 6 years, ya might wanna consider learning something new?

[SG]

You just interviewed people norhing else! So disappointed. BBC used to present detailed videos

[Mace]

Great. For those wondering "Did Finland's basic income experiment work?" as the title [Spoiler alert]




They don't know yet.

[richardschiffman]

Seems like this journalist was spending all his free money on booze.

[bentmercer]

I dont want free money. I just want the govt to stop stealing half the money I earn.

[zoefofo]

Enjoy your country baby. Trust me there are places worse Finland is one of the best place to live

[TheBruces]

I don't know why they are acting as if this is some new concept. People on welfare have had a basic income with no strings for generations.

[thekatephillips]

Lesson I learned from the video: If you give people money, they will become dependent on it.

[Michelle-lw]

Bottom line: if you don't know how to manage money, it doesn't matter if you have 5 dollars or 5 million.

[raydavison]

Pointless program. No results, no questions answered

[CJusticeHappen]

The cultural differences do exist. In Spain, you can buy a beer out of a vending machine. In Canada, if a minor gets served, entire businesses will be fined and shut down, and employees get fired.