by Kate McFarland | Mar 28, 2016 | Research
University of Tampere
Last November, Finland’s plans to test a basic income caught the attention of international media. Although the experiments are still some months away (scheduled to begin in 2017), the Finnish Social Insurance Institution (KELA) has continued to make strides in investigating the possibilities for a basic income.
KELA has recently published a working paper that reviews the current state of the debate on basic income and assesses the pros and cons of various specific proposals.
Johanna Perkiö, a doctoral candidate at the University of Tampere, has written a useful summary of the KELA paper — including a description of the differences between the models of a basic income proposed by the Green Party, the Left Alliance, the think tank Libera, the Christian Democratic Party, and the Social Democratic Youth Organization.
Perkiö also discusses the challenge of removing disincentives to work during the study, given that traditional benefits will remain in place during the trials. She broaches solutions such as a negative income tax system and reduction of benefits on a sliding scale.
To learn more about the variety of basic income models under consideration:
Johanna Perkiö, “Universal basic income: A search for alternative models,” Tutkimusblogi, January 25th, 2016.
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by Josh Martin | Mar 6, 2016 | News
Kangas’s slideshow, shared by Dylan Matthews from Vox, lays out the plan for the Finnish basic income experiments that should start in 2017. The pilot will last two years and will explore different models like a full basic income, a partial basic income, a negative income tax, and others.
Olli Kangas, “Experimenting Basic Income in Finland”, SlideShare, 7 December 2015.
by Josh Martin | Feb 27, 2016 | News
Professors Jurgen De Wispelaere and Antti Halmetoja at the University of Tampere in Finland have created a university course titled, “Universal Basic Income: New Avenues in Social Welfare Policy.” The course will be taught in English and enrollment is open until 29 February with lectures scheduled once a week from 7 March to 16 May.
The website for the course lists the following as the course’s learning outcomes:
“In this course students learn to critically examine the arguments in favour and against basic income and to place the basic income model within the broader context of challenges to and reform of the modern welfare state. Students will also learn to differentiate different basic income models, and to understand the practical and political challenges that emerge when moving from a social idea to a social policy. Students will be expected to critically engage with a key aspect of the basic income debate, conduct personal research to come to a better understanding of the problem and start to formulate a solution to the challenge identified. Throughout this course students will gain understanding of the practical problems of social policy design and implementation.”
De Wispelaere has said that each lecture will be recorded and posted online.
by Josh Martin | Jan 15, 2016 | News
A recent poll conducted by TNS Gallup in November and December of 2015 found that 51 percent of Finnish respondents supported the idea of a basic income, while only 23 percent outright opposed the idea.
A majority of respondents agreed that a basic income would make it easier to start a business and mitigate financial difficulties, with the most support coming from entrepreneurs, students, and unemployed citizens.
However, 69 percent of respondents believed that setting the basic income level would lead to heated disagreements between political parties. On this note, those least likely to support a basic income came from the populist Finns Party or the centre-right National Coalition Party, while those most likely to support it adhered to the Left Alliance and Green parties. All things considered, however, the proportion of Finns supporting a basic income seems to be going down from a staggering 70 percent previously to 51 percent now.
Recent news out of Finland confirmed plans for a basic income pilot project from 2017 to 2019, joining other countries like the Netherlands and Switzerland in seriously debating the topic.
To learn more, view this article from Yle.
by Tyler Prochazka | Dec 20, 2015 | News
On first glance, many may think the idea of giving everyone free money is absurd. However, Sean O’Grady argues in an article in the Independent that a universal basic income, as soon to be tested in Finland and other countries, may have significant merit.
The benefits include lower administrative costs and the elimination of “poverty traps” created when government assistance diminished as an individual’s income rises. Indeed, a basic income might induce more people to work harder.
Despite some worries about implementing a basic income in the United Kingdom, such as the need to cover high housing and childcare costs, O’Grady thinks the British should consider copying the Finn’s new approach to welfare.
Sean O’Grady, “It’s time to copy Finland and give every citizen a basic income”, Independent, December 8, 2015.
