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

[@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).

[@bl00dhoney]

Thanks!!

[@nolin132]

If you want hard stats then don't go on KZbin, lol

[@Stephensofceea]

Absolutely. This video really doesn't have any valid points to make

[@Stephensofceea]

@@nolin132 is it wrong to expect stats from BBC tho?

[@simonkaggwanjala]

God bless you. You saved me 5 minutes of my life.

[@13inkostar]

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

[@akallstar5]

Inko J relax... English is everyone’s second language and you need to know it in Europe.

[@pirate0jimmy]

that's fantastic for Americans who got a D in Spanish and a C in Latin, but will bring plenty of money.

[@pirate0jimmy]

Finland, where unemployed for years journalist has an apartment with built-in cabinets, not just a crash couch in buddy apartmet.

[@marka3122]

@@pirate0jimmy isn't america submerged in debt?

[@pirate0jimmy]

Yes, but it's fake debt, meaning that it will not be paid off with true value. The trick is to make the vig payment each quarter and convince the lenders to keep lending.

[@Longtack55]

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

[@davidwebb2318]

That is the level of BBC 'analysis' now.

[@abdullahiabdille9758]

Yeah

[@aran7teen]

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

[@OfficiallyZOK]

Actually studies has been shown more and more that cheese is the no'1 dietary cause of weight gain, diabetes, bone fractures, different types of cancer (mostly breasts & prostate) heart attack and stroke, Finland is one of the top consumers of dairy products in the world and therefore seeing a lot of dairy related illnesses, even low consumption of dairy products is detrimental to health, it distrupts the hormonal functions by inducing the blood with IGF-1, estrogen and progesterone, the milk proteins elevate the acidity of the body and become toxic to the kidneys, the dairy contain environmental toxins etc etc, bottom line, dairy is baby calfs hormonal growth food and should not be consumed by humans, it's not a nutritional need nor a survival need, it's bad for our health, it's not good for the environment and surly causes unnecessary harm to animals which we manufacture by artificial insemination.

[@automatofix]

@Steve McQueen Reread his message for god's sake.

[@bushwhacked7112]

I’ve got some Dairylea she can have.

[@OfficiallyZOK]

@Emily Moss cheese is mostly fat, if u eat a 100g of cheese, even if it seems a very small portion, most of the calories in it are from fat, that fat will then be stored in the body and when the body fat levels are high, it prevents from even healthy sugars to be broken down properly and be assimilated into the cells, therefore causing diabetes, this has been shown over and over in medical journals, you can go on PCRM.org & Nutritionfacts.org to obtain all the information

[@BlueCrashFigurineHoldingWumpa]

Nordic Plant Power You're not wrong but I'll just chime in to remind folks reading this thread, that there are numerous options that are high in protein and low in both fat and calories, though they clearly are still not as healthy as their veg "counterparts"

[@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.

[@taiterobinson793]

Nordic Plant Power the bbc is the Tory channel

[@RoyAH.]

Agreed, at least an n of 3 would have been nice. 2 is chance.

[@zarabada6125]

This is a short news piece for their website. They also do in-depth documentaries such as Panorama, which are an hour long. Perhaps they will take a look at this in a longer format but that is no reason to ditch these short news segments. You can't cover every story in detail as you run out of time, money and resources but these short segments are enough to introduce a topic.

[@OfficiallyZOK]

@@exists474 90% of people in Finland speak good English, it's one of the best English speaking countries in the world

[@Trippy_solutions]

No think this is what most people with brains expect from the BBC....nothing

[@22mikemike]

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

[@davidwebb2318]

That is the BBC for you. Their journalists wouldn't be abel to present any statistics. They can only present feelings and emotions. That is why the BBC is a complete waste of money.

[@Ritaaw1]

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.

[@JuanLopez-zo8os]

Your country is an example of what every country should do. Even North Korea, Pakistan, Congo. Its UBI because it must be applied in the whole world

[@WalkwithRoberto]

In my opinion, it's perfectly logical for any community (country) to take care of it's members, like part of a big family. How I wish this could work in my own country, but corruption and our stupid "Cheating makes you smarter tehehe" mentality, would make it unsustainable.

[@n.8140]

The government should serve the people! In America mentally ill become homeless statistics...

[@Ritaaw1]

abin joseph I was homeless at 16 years old so I was taken into custody. I have been diagnosed with dissociation which is related to ptsd, and I have lost my ability to work due to it.

[@abinjoseph9808]

@@Ritaaw1 i wasnt homeless, but my youth life was brutal and i have PTSD also, but you saying your ability to work has been gone because of that, seems like an excuse. start with a small job, then keep moving.

[@SG003]

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

[@johnwang9914]

This is just a six minutes clip. Perhaps you should reserve judgement till you've seen the entire show.

[@SG003]

perhaps you are too stupid to understand this is the whole thing available to me. How would I know there is more when this is the thing presented to us. I don't see any mention that this is a trailer for full show

[@lseger62]

It was a feelings based propaganda piece for the KZbin generation with limited attention spans.

[@dax9431]

@Sayan guria I'm sure they also interviewed dogs & cats. If the subject was interesting enough to you, go online and read up for yourself. Do not expect the BBC to do it all for you.

[@thewizzard3150]

Only when the experiment went their way!

[@darrylblueberry6729]

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

[@polarisgemini52]

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.

[@Atchuu2004]

In the US, that's what the states and counties/cities are supposed to do, but we've lost that understanding...Instead we get people who argue over what ifs on a massive federal scale. Imagine if your taxes flowed up rather than down and the city/county decided the benefits they wanted to offer and contributed with the rest of the cities/counties in your states to the state level, etc....

[@JCosio-bs9xr]

They don't run tests because we don't elect scientists. We elect the cool kids who are good at arguing.

[@lotto5742]

They are experimenting with universal basic income in Stockton, ca

[@weirdshibainu]

I agree with you in principle. However, the sides dig in and look at the same data and make claims based on emotion. Ex: If basic income didnt work, inevitably one side would say the money wasn't enough, in other words, go bigger.

[@patglenn7762]

IF it works; then I'm all for it. But if it doesn't work (And personally, I highly doubt that it does.) then they need to be prepared to honestly admit to the validity of the empirical data, rather than finding excuses as to why it would work next time, if they only continued.

[@richardschiffman7657]

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

[@BlueCrashFigurineHoldingWumpa]

We saw him hitting the sauce twice, bruh, not exactly indicative of his lifestyle over the course of two years

[@richardvass1462]

LOL

[@landlord5552]

And 1 booze cost around 6-8€ in Helsinki

[@hanovergreen4091]

80 applications since 2013? Really?

[@Sp4zc0r3]

@@hanovergreen4091 Hey man, it does happen to people who are "overqualified". Your experience can knock you out of the application pile - nobody wants to hire someone that can take over their job. Same thing happened to a close relative of mine, put in 2 to 3 applications a day for over a year. Now he has a job in a field completely unrelated to his doctorate degree, far away from family.

[@81Mace81]

Great. For those wondering "Did Finland's basic income experiment work?" as the title promises................. [Spoiler alert] They don't know yet.

[@brymilan]

"Did Finland's basic income experiment work?" is the question BBC is asking and hoping to find out because they also don't know.

[@mrvaas876]

..how about now?

[@davidwebb2318]

That is the level of BBC 'analysis' now.

[@zoefofo7769]

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

[@raydavison2972]

Pointless program. No results, no questions answered

[@shauncameron8390]

Or marginal at best.

[@theylive5851]

Ray Davison It's not pointless. They did the program b/c AUTOMATION is here. 5-10yrs from now people will not be needed and mass hysteria will set in. So they have to find a way to cur-tell the riots when people can buy food.

[@erikabenke8632]

The point was to see if a big financial incentive encouraged unemployed people to accept jobs or start businesses. Studies indicate than in 15 years, 30% of jobs in developed economies could be at risk of automation. Policymakers have to start experimenting with possible solutions: basic income could be one of them. Initial results of the Finish experiment will be published on February 8.

[@raydavison2972]

@@erikabenke8632 I understand that was the point of the experiment and there may be worth in that. What I said however was that the program (The news program to be clear) was pointless as in it did not answer the question it posed. It did not even weigh the pros and cons.

[@theylive5851]

@@erikabenke8632 Well said. I didn't have time to go into it like you did but you're spot on. I think the vast majority of people are underestimating the automation area we are about to be in. Humanity will change forever like the industrial revolution changed us

[@TANQ31]

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?

[@CJusticeHappen21]

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.

[@carlotadiaaz]

Hi! I'm Spanish and I can't buy a beer from a vending machine, so I don't know where u are from but that's not true

[@CJusticeHappen21]

@@carlotadiaaz I bought beer from a vending machine in Estella, Spain.

[@carlotadiaaz]

@@CJusticeHappen21 Well, then I guess it's true, but Ive never once in my life seen it and Ive been and lived in several places in Spain🤷🏼‍♀️ But I know one thing for sure, it is illegal

[@CJusticeHappen21]

@@carlotadiaaz It might well be illegal, I wouldn't know. But legal or not, it has been my observation that people in Europe have a far more relaxed attitude towards alcohol than people on my side of the Atlantic; at least those people in command of legislation and executive action.

[@CJusticeHappen21]

@laser325 Again, I'm just saying it's something I witnessed firsthand, and enjoyed firsthand. I don't know or care if it was (or is) legal (or illegal); but props to you for backing me up on this.

[@josemoisa5552]

This guy is getting 560 a month but goes to bars and has a macbook pro WTF?

[@i.o.u.4195]

It was only draft beer not the good stuff, poor guy🍺☹️

[@calliopeiasmiles]

Your missing the point...

[@philstev9888]

Andrew Yang for President. I will ask the business to pay for the damages

[@ignaciod8683]

@FlyingMonkies325 you are very right about everything! Schools are a scam! So is the Government all they ever care about is money! They don't care about any of us, and they don't want us to succeed

[@docbrown.]

It’s his choice whatever he wants to do that’s the whole point of Universal basic income.

[@Michelle777-l2w]

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

[@jamesl9371]

Wrong! If you’re a bad money manager and you’re rich you’ll probably be ok. If you’re poor you’re probably screwed. I bet a lot of poor people are more efficient at money management because they have to be

[@leadroady]

Point missed. Basic Income is not just about "getting a job". It is conceived as a way of keeping an economy afloat when there simply are not enough jobs to go round. Automation, robotics, AI will impact hugely on the future job market, so much so that "Post Capitalism" is a real thing we need to be fleshing out; basic income is likely to be a key part of that.

[@digitalmoonbooks]

This is the most intelligent comment in here.

[@NJIStudios]

@@digitalmoonbooks good then you would probably be glad to hear Andrew Yang is running for president and you both should look into him!

[@goondocksaints9597]

Technology has eliminated jobs about as fast as they create new ones. Since the dawn of the industrial revolution we've been hearing that technology is going to eliminate jobs to the point that capitalism will fail. Do you have any idea how many years have passed since the dawn of the industrial revolution?

[@NJIStudios]

@@goondocksaints9597 Ever heard of Moores law? Reality check, technology was never good enough to do it... it's only NOW starting to be good enough and have an investment put into it... so yeah no shit it hasn't happened yet... because the moment they were talking about is in 3 ish years now that have machines using deep learning. We only began to have hardware capable of managing it in 2017... and now were programming it for everything in 2019... so in 100 years time, we went from literally nothing to machines doing our jobs and you say "EHHH MACHINES CAN'T TAKE ERR JERBS LSADOASDPOKFJ"

[@goondocksaints9597]

@@NJIStudios You're not among the first millions to fear emerging technology - that was my point and I stand by it.

[@stringmonkey568]

To the author, write a book, self publish it. Make it simple, maybe a travel book on your country, maybe a cookbook with national recipes, maybe a children's book centered on Finland. Write articles for magazines and submit them. Start a class for students who want to learn writing skills. I know it's not a typical 40 hr a week employment, but it could lead to something better. Exposure is everything.

[@LNMarls]

Well said!

[@wolfumz]

It's striking Tuomas could not find a permanent position. I am so curious why it's been so challenging- I want to hear from a recruiter or an expert or something.

[@irissantos4292]

Who would pay for it? Who would pay for a travel book or classes of writing skills? That is the problem. He need a job. He doesn't need business ideas.

[@SomeSurvive]

Or teach

[@fordhouse8b]

I think he is writing articles and submitting them. They described him as a freelance journalist, and that is basically what they do. What he is looking for is steady employment, with a regular and fixed salary.

[@iliailia4032]

"How am I going to live my finances are collapsing". Is this video a joke?, you live exactly the same way before you got free money..

[@SmashBrosBrawl]

instead of being conservative with the cash and putting it into a savings or pay off debt.... they just increased their standard of living!!!! This is obviously unsustainable as if UBI does go through, the "good cheese" will just go up and turns out you won't be able to afford the "good cheese" anymore.

[@User-wt9jk]

Once you got a taste of that good cheese life there’s no going back to bottom shelf low life shit

[@laurametheny1008]

Exactly. In the States they have done something similar imho. With all the excess free unemployment and rent forgiveness and food etc. They complained and bragged and became couch potatoes or just Entitled whiners who refuse to go to work. There are thousands of jobs! Not good enough now. All 3 of my grandchildren are working. 2 all the way thru this pandemic. Shameful greedy peeps.🙄

[@thekatephillips]

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

[@Ritaaw1]

We live in a capitalistic system, you cannot survive without money.

[@davidwebb2318]

exactly

[@TheBruces56]

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.

[@aprilbogle8112]

YUP - what a shocking concept. Why aren't weall scrambling for this lifestyle (yet anyways)?

[@digitalmoonbooks]

Or veterans, getting Disability when they got limbs blown off in Wars for Oil and the Poppy.

[@tesmith47]

Not true not a living wage and lots of strings!! Just ask those involved, especially the rich ones!

[@RobinFlysHigh]

Not in America

[@wingsofpurityofficial4031]

The second they get a job or become able-bodied again, their welfare goes away regardless of whether or not they are still able to pay for their expenses. This creates incentives for people to stay on disability benefits or welfare. In addition to this, there are also a lot of overhead costs associated with welfare due to regulating who can and cannot receive it. Because of this, welfare is an even more inefficient system than UBI would be.

[@loserplanet]

80 job applications in 6 YEARS!? When I graduated from school I applied to well over 500 jobs in 6 months! No one was giving me money to hang out in the bar, thank God.

[@henrikrinne3639]

Also: Telemarketing isn’t a real job. It’s taking advantage of people inclintation to be polite.

[@goondocksaints9597]

It doesn't last long if you can't reach quotas.

[@RobertGarcia-wv8vx]

Telemarketing, before the internet marketing it was a good way to promote goods and services. Now, robo-calling is a nusiance.

[@bentmercer]

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

[@DOKOTV]

If she cannot afford take care of herself why does she have a dog? 🤔

[@KW_AM]

She was dogsitting to make ends meet

[@WalkwithRoberto]

She got fatter and she got a dog.

[@WalkwithRoberto]

What surprises me the most is that she only managed to get fat by the end of the experiment

[@morganp7238]

@@WalkwithRoberto I agree. Poor fat people are a paradox. However, it is the case that they are fat for a reason and that reason can be the same as the one that keeps them poor, namely, ignorance.

[@BatCountryAdventures]

@@morganp7238 I think some people would argue that cheap food are less healthy and more fattening.

[@AssanRaelian]

Bravo Finland! For having the creativity & courage in helping the people. 👋🏿

[@davidwebb2318]

It didn't work and would never work. Lazy socialists like the idea becaus it sounds great. These schemes are basically a blueprint for how to screw your own economy and make everyone poorer.

[@blinder2786]

Just to clarify: the 650€ was just the free money they received from the experiment. That amount does NOT include the unemployment benefits they receive from the government.

[@md85aus94]

No it isn't it replaced the unemployment benefit. They whole experiment was to see if welfare could be done differently...

[@ibrahimseck8520]

Did the journalist consider other jobs ? There are some domains like construction/goods transport that are always hungry for workers...Anyways, I wish him good luck from Morocco, whatever he chooses to do

[@richardvass1462]

Not everybody can do those jobs especially when they get older. And those are traditionally men's jobs anyway. What if I had a son I would recommend in doing that type of work instead of going to college and accumulating debt for a job that may go obsolete. Good car mechanic will always have a job or a plumber or electrician.

[@xWood4000]

Those domains are pretty well occupied here in Finland, especially by migrant workers who require less pay. We have a lot of unemployment and a lot of work to be done, but every person can't become a doctor for example.

[@fordhouse8b]

@@@xWood4000 "Require less pay." I find these minimum basic income schemes to be very interesting, but isn't one of the points of them that people like him can get a lower paying job than what he really wants, and still keep getting the basic income? Although, in the case of the journalist, I got the impression that he was doing some freelance work, just not getting any permanent employment. If that is the case, depending on how much he manages to earn with sporadic journalism work, It might not make financial sense to transition to another line of work.

[@jaronmeshileichenbaum9934]

He should learn coding

[@richardvass1462]

@FlyingMonkies325 Agree 100%

[@bingomaster2227]

Summary: Oh no I don’t have money I can’t buy cheese Yay money I can buy cheese No! Now there’s no money, no cheese! Thanks for explaining nothing.

[@samscanlan3224]

@Sidnac Dimma "considering they all came from a state of unemployment" exactly! The whole point of UBI is it applies to everyone... would people on min-wage jobs leave and try to advance their position with the security provided by UBI? Would they keep their job and save for a deposit on a house, invest it in a business..? Feels like such a wasted opportunity by restricting it to the already-unemployed.

[@tearlelee34]

I am not an economist, however, the study is flawed if the UBI recipient group was 2000 unemployed. Universal Basis Income means everyone including Tim Cook of Apple would receive a monthly benefit. Where are the small business owners in this study, where are the young entrepreneurs etc.. I don't understand the objective of the study. I hope everyone understands that the banks did not turn down QE after the global 2008 collapse. QE is UBI for banks. Banks already benefit from the magic of fractional reserve banking.

[@jasonkelley9072]

Lol If you think it’s sustainable to give people who are rich a “monthly benefit” you’re some kind of special

[@ThatsRight1776]

@@jasonkelley9072 Well of course it isn't sustainable, but it can't be called "Universal basic income" if it's not universal, i.e. for everyone, it's just cash welfare.

[@thewizzard3150]

for not being an economist, you certainly sound like one; start off with blue sky conclusions and follow up with uncoordinated facts.

[@stephanesurprenant60]

Pilot study are unfortunately very costly. The point was likely to see how unemployed people specifically would respond. On average, they expected more people would find a job this way because you get to keep benefits and wage alike. However, you do loose the need to show efforts as with unemployment benefits. If the amount is comparable to unemployment benefits, it shouldn't lead more people to slack off or be more demanding either. I'd say your program is good for the garbage bin if you cannot show people benefit from it and/or fewer people become dependent.

[@gungho9]

correction: Tim Apple as he was christened by pastor Donald J Trump recently.

[@bpnracing1256]

Take a job you don't want? Completely out of the question.

[@dymechik721]

Very little info was given about the program so this video was useless. The journalist's problem wasn't that he wasn't able to find work for 5 years, it was that he continued to look for work in the same dying industry that's telling him he's "too old" or "too experienced." We have options in this world. A responsible adult would say, "Something's not working. Let me change career paths or look for a lower level job to help me get by, at least."

[@bobgillis1137]

“Free Money” seems to work for the 1%. Their money makes their un-earned income, not their labours.

[@EmeraldEyesEsoteric]

True, but don't known UBI. I mean they could just kill us all. Agenda 21 depopulation.

[@NJIStudios]

The money they stole from us tax paying citizens too no less... we deserve our money back plus interest in UBI. YANG GANG 2020!!

[@Zackeizer96]

This isn't UBI. This money only went to unemployed people. UBI is supposed to go to everyone.

[@CastellonZamora]

Program should be accompanied by some sort of financial literacy or suggestions on what to do with that extra money---I would've applied it to education/savings

[@CastellonZamora]

@zenubi ayeeeeeee you got me there!!!

[@angelmushahf]

Well, it would assist your education costs in the U.S. Or help pay off debt. There's a student loan crisis in the U.S. Or use it to start a business, use it towards your health, you can pay your own car insurance, spend more time with family, the list goes on

[@annakoncz1975]

This young female should go back to school and become nurse assistant / 2 years program / . This is only good example what she could do with this money.......and has a nice job for life. She did NOTHING to improve her life. Same with this guy. Money was spent on drinks. In Canada was same project for while. Good it was ended by Ontario conservatives. Nothing wrong if this person will ask governement for intrest free loan and pay after she / he can get some kind diploma, otherwise it is money throw into garbage.

[@toonceshere9668]

These people should be taking any job they can find in order to avoid being a scab (for 5-6 years). They're living off the blood, sweat and tears of hardworking taxpayers. How nice to order expensive alcohol in a fancy bar during working hours.

[@jhenrypaul]

Maybe a friend was paying for his drinks? And times out and about.

[@toonceshere9668]

Ollie Hoover Maybe an invisible friend.

[@panwerv7618]

@@toonceshere9668 how do you afford expensive drinks, rent, groceries, etc on just 650$ a month? I didn't know Finland was that affordable. Something doesn't add up here.

[@toonceshere9668]

Pan Werv That would be a good question for him.

[@panwerv7618]

@@toonceshere9668 would you be able to afford expensive drinks, groceries, rent, Healthcare, etc on 650$ a month?

[@ricardoguanipa8275]

I live in the Caribbean I really don't get these people, I started working at 14 bagging groceries, cleaning my neighbors yard and now i'm a Hotel Night Agent and operate my Family business.... if I didn't work I wouldn't have nothing to eat nor have running water, that man can easily get a job as Proofreader, Editor or Translator but it seems like he asks for too much money or like too party a lot. and that young woman she sounds friendly enough to get a job at retail or as a cashier, but looks like she has an issue with keeping a schedule and looks disorganized

[@eon001]

Immigrant mentality. That's why we enter other countries and pretty much take over the workforce. Were wiling to put the work in, and make sacrifices the native don't. That girl didn't save her money from her job, and had the nerve to by a dog.. Wheres her priorities at?

[@Lanja1991]

Exactly my thoughts too! When you are jobless you take any job that comes your way!

[@upholdsanity3759]

It's called an Experiment.

[@jerommaat7789]

@@Lanja1991 aye lmao and that's how wages get driven down. What if there was some system in place that gave people financial stability. So they could find a suitable job and talk about wages with their boss. All without having to question if there is going to be food on the table tommorow. And before you go claiming people would take advantage. Of course not. Bosses can still decline. This is about leveling the playing field during wage negotiations.

[@Lanja1991]

Jerom Maat what you say sounds so nice but if we are being real most people in the world work their butt off and just take any job so as to be bale to have food on the table and keep a roof. I think the only countries where one doesn’t have to worry about having an income are Qatar and UAE where everyone get their fare share from the profit made through selling oil.

[@MurasakiBunny]

The results DID come out, apparently giving people free money DIDN'T encourage many to get work.

[@PaveMentman]

--- There is a difference between "encouraging" and "magically creating new jobs" and everything in between. What the preliminary results show is that two-years is a far too short to see economical shifts and other related things. Probably the most important result we have yet read is how much the people during this test-period re-educated themselves to another trade. And perhaps what are the much longer-term results for the lessened amount of bureaucracy involved. Lessened amount of stress over daily well-being also gave people a noticeable amount of brighter view and hope to eventually get employed. Here is a link for the prelimiraty results in English ( there a link to the full PDF-file on the left-side of the page ): julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/161361 --- --- ---

[@tennislite]

Interesting. I would have thought most people would try to do something. Guess money does not change your habbits.

[@PaveMentman]

@@tennislite Very subjective, as I already wrote: I for one only recently was able to afford a personal car because I just happened to be extremely lucky to find one for affordable price (500€). While also having have been able to save up enough money for the all the registration costs (200€) and initial taxes (another 200€) plus also the "traffic insurance / third-party motor liability"-insurance (yet another 200€). So now I can search for more work than ever in my 30-years of life of mine. Point of mine is that even with extra money, things most of the times the more tied to the things the unemployed-people don't have control over. So it isn't the case of not trying do something, but rather simply unable to or the process of change simply taking a lot longer than some people wish for. --- ---

[@oakstrong1]

Universal income does not create jobs or magically wave away other obstacles like skills training and careers advice with aptitude test. Suddenly getting a small amount of extra money does not change thinking habits or give the realisation of the opportunities that the small extra income might give. Government giving free money in isolation is always a bad idea

[@BramowitchIII]

Yes, you have told two stories. Yes, the viewer is now aware that basic income is not always good and not always bad. No, the viewer wasn't meaningfully informed in any other way about the actual effect of basic income and whether it is a good idea, like the video asks.

[@Nickle314]

What's missing? The mugs forced to pay for it have no right of consent. That's just financial rape and the victims are ignored.

[@Nickle314]

@Knight of the Sun It doesn't work. The recent experiments show it doesn't work. Now reread the articles on it. Ask a simple question. Were the people who were forced to fund it considered in the experiment? Answer no.

[@RobertGarcia-wv8vx]

Mental masturbation.

[@davidwebb2318]

@@Nickle314 You are right. Anyone with basic understanding of economics knows this can never work. It is the old perpetual motion machine problem but translated into financial terms.... To pay for the UBI you need to collect more taxes but there would be fewer taxpayers because wages would be lower (because they are now subsidised by UBI). So, you tax the corporations more reducing the incentive to invest and encouraging them to become dependent on a cheap subsidised workforce. Efficiency and competitiveness drops which means lower corporation tax revenue for the government. End result - every year they can afford less and less UBI payments so EVERYONE gets poorer. Basically, this is a socialist blueprint for how to fuck your own economy. Tarted up and presented with a bit of 'nice' ideology it appeals to lazy socialists who never think things through or ask themselves where the money will come from.

[@Nickle314]

@@davidwebb2318 Correct. What we can see from furlough payments is exactly that. People decide not to work, take the furlough. I'm entirely in agreement. Now if you want to decrease wealth inequality, then you need the poorer to invest. Oh dear, the socialist welfare state has taken the poor's money [pension contributions] and spent the lot, leave a massive debt. Hence it needs to impose austerity on people and deny them their weatlh.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

still without a job but $100 hair cut and drinking high end beer at high end restaurants.....what is wrong with people

[@ludacorleone8563]

Does a haircut really cost 100$ come on wtf you saying?🤦‍♂️

[@Glace1221]

Nice micro-documentary, no useful nor interesting information.

[@davidwebb2318]

That is the BBC for you. Their journalists wouldn't be abel to present any statistics. They can only present feelings and emotions. That is why the BBC is a complete waste of money.

[@keenoled]

The woman is open to any job she can get. The man is looking for a job that fits his exact job title.

[@kathyhansen2820]

Odd that each time they show the unemployed journalist he has a drink in his hand,

[@thomaswilk6128]

Don't you think it's because he's miserable!

[@shafishafique6412]

Yet still paying £150 for the TV licence oh!! It's gone up £155....why?

[@aminboumerdassi2334]

It's just £5 more, not really much on a yearly basis

[@aminboumerdassi2334]

@Johannes Liechtenauer who is We? Or did you mean you personally? And the tv licence does cover iPlayer too. Not exactly easy being the top broadcasting corporation on the cheap

[@0Flow0]

I wish I had been a part of this experiment. For me I just want a job I like that gives me enough money for my needs and for the charity I do. Freedom and being content are more important than being rich.

[@laurametheny1008]

Yes! Exactly how I feel. Right down to the charity. I am disabled after more than 30yrs, working mostly in factories. I have my SSDI. It's just enough for me and my dog/s and my donations. It's what I worked all those years for, besides raising a child alone and helping support my 3 grandchildren. Now with everything going haywire including my sick daughter who just lost the last of her income, it might not be enough. I'm afraid of this UBI thing. I've heard that there is a possibility of them taking away our hard earned disability insurance and Medicare etc and putting everything in a pot that will be portioned out equally to all the recipients. That's is how they will(might) cover it. In the States I'm expecting that. Because they wouldn't have to take money from the rich...people or corporations etc...which is how they always do things here in some form or another. Keep the rich on top and wealthy, and the poor on the bottom. And pay them all the same so they don't have big admin problems. And all us poor sheep will just be thrilled. And we will NOT receive what we worked for. Government Robinhood. Only they take from the bottom and give to the bottom. Scary. That's just one of the vids I watched that really concerned me. Good luck. Stay safe.🙏🤔

[@davidwebb2318]

NIce ideology but who pays for it? The 'free' money has to come from somewhere, that basically means other people working harder to fund you having an easy time doing what you want. If everyone did that then the government wouldn't collect enough taxes to pay for it so the outcome would be everyone would be poorer. That is why socialist ideas like this always fail. These kinds of ideas appeal to lazy people who want something for no effort..

[@laurametheny1008]

@@davidwebb2318 Who are you talking to? I'm sure NOT for any of that crap like I said. I've already paid for what I get. And I also give back plenty.🤔

[@davidwebb2318]

@@laurametheny1008 My reply was to the OP not you. If you look at my comment you will see that it doesn't have your name in it. That means it wasn't to you but the OP.

[@VICE1385]

“People won’t use the money for drugs and alcohol” . . *Shows a clip of a man who’s been without work for years walking into a bar to spend his UBI on alcohol*

[@rubex229]

What's the difference, he's still gonna spend his working money on Alcohol

[@VICE1385]

@@rubex229 he’d be contributing to society instead of living off of everyone else’s dime. . . Just proof that it’s a failed expirement

[@StaceyBing]

What do you want? CHEESE! When do you want it? NOW! It's not a lot to ask, is it? Everyone on KZbin should all band together and start sending her lots of different cheeses from around the world. 🧀😂🧀🧀

[@geniustop1c]

This country is damn racist😬😢

[@OfficiallyZOK]

Actually studies has been shown more and more that cheese is the no'1 dietary cause of weight gain, diabetes, bone fractures, different types of cancer (mostly breasts & prostate) heart attack and stroke, Finland is one of the top consumers of dairy products in the world and therefore seeing a lot of dairy related illnesses, even low consumption of dairy products is detrimental to health, it distrupts the hormonal functions by inducing the blood with IGF-1, estrogen and progesterone, the milk proteins elevate the acidity of the body and become toxic to the kidneys, the dairy contain environmental toxins etc etc, bottom line, dairy is baby calfs hormonal growth food and should not be consumed by humans, it's not a nutritional need nor a survival need, it's bad for our health, it's not good for the environment and surly causes unnecessary harm to animals which we manufacture by artificial insemination.

[@josel.rodriguezgarcia2980]

No, that's why she gained weight.

[@anicatt]

And here we have smarty pants 🙄

[@richardvass1462]

@@OfficiallyZOK What do you hate cheese so much? If you eat right otherwise and drink a glass of wine and have coffee you'll be fine.

[@SobrietyandSolace]

I lost my DLA during an extremely difficult time in my life where my health was an absolute mess (multiple chronic illnesses, autism, multiple mental health issues) and I was barely able to walk, eat, sleep, bathe, dress myself or leave the house for months, up every night puking my guts up until there was blood, had a severe chest infection, hallucinating, self harming etc and was not in a fit state to appeal the decision; the application process in itself was bad enough. Everything about the benefits system is a confusing, intimidating mess that can get you into a bigger hole than the one you started with as many find with housing benefit or massive delays with universal credit. You have to prove your outgoings before applying, so have to take on financial commitments without a guarantee that you can fulfil. You may be rejected. Your award or conditions of your reward could change at any time. You can't get help if someone you live with is deemed to be your partner even if you're essentially being forced into sex and do not have access to their financial information. I lost my home, my long term partner, my cat and have been forced into sex work in exchange for sleeping on an internet stranger's couch. My DLA wasn't even that much money, less than half of a basic income being proposed, but it would have been enough to keep me afloat taking the financial stress off of me so I could recover and get myself to hospital appointments which will make me more employable (I had put off so many appointments and surgery because I couldn't afford the time off work when I was working). It takes so much more time money and effort to help people who have hit rock bottom get back on their feet. When you lose your home and all your stuff, it takes a huge toll on your mental health, impeding job searching/work performance (it was hard working 7-9 days straight whilst not knowing where I was going to sleep every night). Some people may even feel forced to quit their job if they can't manage coming in and homelessness, keeping up appearances and complicated commuting from various hostels/shelters etc. resulting in financial penalties or legal action for quitting without giving adequate notice. You keep having to waste money storing or repurchasing things especially if you need specialist PPC or equipment to do your job. Many places will not hire you if you are homeless because they perceive complications on their end. I have had rejections for farm jobs when I have great grades from a private school, university level education, a decade of volunteering/apprenticeships/internships (15 years' experience overall) plus a relevant qualification (Distinction grade) in agriculture. They wouldn't even let me have a basic farm job because they thought the level of extra support I would need due to my circumstances would be too much. I have an IQ of 142 and couldn't even get a minimum wage labour job; they said come back once you are not homeless. I am trying to get the job to get out of my situation! Getting yourself into debt messes up your credit rating which goes against you in the future. I would try to move to a place with a cheaper cost of living again to make my existence more realistically sustainable but can't afford to do that. A basic income coming in could fund that and give people money to live on whilst looking for a new job in a new place, buying interview clothes/travel expenses to interviews etc. When I lost my home that was my plan; I had moved somewhere with a cost of living less than half of my home city, but simply having no money coming in for 2 straight months meant I wound up back at zero, requiring even more help from public services. With a basic income I could have stayed where I was, still had my boyfriend of 6 years living with me, not have cracked under financial strain, gotten my prescriptions/health issues under control) and eventually got a job in the new location. £5880 a year might be enough to scrape by on for some people but it's definitely enough to help someone keep their head above water and HELP THEMSELVES, either during a job search, topping up a low income if they're already in work or support the startup of new small businesses that take a little while before they become sustainable and start turning a profit. Fixing homelessness long term costs so much more than creating a safety net to help avoid it in the first place. This isn't meant to live on, its just to help people not lose everything and have to start all over again, keep afloat, save to invest in things that would be profitable and sustainable in the future etc.

[@johneli495]

I want the good cheese too.....not American cheese

[@nomadeaustraliano3066]

You're overrating. Here in America we have the best cheeses ..and unlike Europe the best nipples

[@treeaboo]

@@nomadeaustraliano3066 American cheese is disgusting, it tastes like plastic. Also France has the best nipples, as well all know the French make great lovers.

[@nomadeaustraliano3066]

@@treeaboo lmao I didn't know there were hot girls in the frostness land ..why are ya french people so rude? ..Paris is no longer Paris and yer country looks fewer and fewer charming... French is a such bummer language and there's no point at all btw .. dagnabbit! fuckin friggin french snowflakes

[@yafetpalomeque75]

Good cheese in America? Mmmm, I don't think so. Traveling all around Europe I've tasted the best cheeses the regions have to offer. There's no such thing as "the best cheese" every region apply their know-how and artisanal techniques to elaborate the tastiest cheeses with the best they have.

[@agiftofflame]

@@nomadeaustraliano3066 please stop calling the chemical waste you guys eat cheese. Mm nothing like a good parmesan, rochefort, mozzarella and cheddar in your pasta sauce. Goddamn I'm hungry now.

[@mletrout7942]

That's the sort of outstanding journalism I've come to expect from CNN, er...I mean, BBC News. Sorry.

[@RobinFlysHigh]

Ouch hahah

[@davidwebb2318]

That is the level of BBC 'analysis' now. What did you expect? The BBC News operations ONLY has 6,000 staff you know!

[@ThatsRight1776]

"The basic income experiment in Finland has gained unprecedented attention around the world. However, the preliminary results of the experiment are disappointing. The labour market effects, which were the focus of the experiment, seemed negligible." "Ba­sic in­come did not cre­ate more work hours or higher in­comes" - Nordic Welfare News Also, that money the government spent on this, was taken from productive people through taxation.

[@davidwebb2318]

Exactly. This was utterly predictable by anyone who knows anything about economics. These kinds of ideas appeal to lazy socialists who want something for no effort.

[@proudmanboobsowner8620]

As a Finn, I really hope this doesn't come a mainstream thing. Free money? There is no such thing!! We the workers will always have to pay for that. Finland is going towards socialism, even more than it is now..

[@denisecranson831]

How is this a "basic income"? Can one live on it even at the most frugal level? If not, what do they mean by basic income?

[@oakstrong1]

You are right: it is NOT a basic income but a SUPPLEMENT to unemployment benefits that already exist or a replacement of those benefits. This video is not stating any facts.

[@DiscoFang]

Video Synopsis: Woman eats 2 years of basic income worth of cheese; Man drinks 2 years of basic income worth of alcohol.

[@kenchanaud]

I didn’t learn anything from this.

[@davidwebb2318]

That is the level of BBC 'analysis' now.

[@markgreen6229]

This video does not answer the question: "Did Finland's basic income experiment work?" It only shows how booze, cheese and pedigree dogs are easier to come by with free money.

[@panwerv7618]

Dog wasn't hers. We all share a Cheese desire - it doesn't mean she bought the good cheese. And I have zero clue how he could afford booze on just 650$ a month. Dude was never going to get a job because he used to be a journalist and there are not many job openings for journalists. He is also 49 years old so why would a company invest time and money training someone who is only going to be out the door soon and can't keep up with younger coworkers? No amount of money you give or not give is going to change that.

[@davidwebb2318]

That's the BBC News operation for you. They only have 6,000 staff, what are you expecting, an in depth analysis or something?!?!?!?

[@markgreen6229]

@@davidwebb2318 Yes. 1 person can do an in depth analysis on almost any subject.

[@davidwebb2318]

@@markgreen6229 I know. Pity the BBC don't realise this.

[@einarvolsung2202]

I too have only wanted the good cheese. Some people think I'm to picky. But I will not settle for crap cheese.

[@mesta9997]

seems like she got that good cheese before the end of the cheese subsidy ended. Probably got too much cheese. Maybe even took out loans to get some more of that good cheese.

[@mannyechaluce3814]

Then keep it up, there are a lot of space in the poor house..............

[@LoriFoster]

😫 my father and mother had many jobs in their working life. Dad was a depressions era guy as my mom, he farmed, worked in a saw mill, dug coal in another state for a few years and ended up being a welder for the last 30 years or so. Mom worked many jobs as well in different fields and raised 5 kids. This ethic was passed on to us then our children. Moral of the story is You may see yourself as a journalist but if there are no journalist positions available then pick another field and work, at the end of the day you are a worker. 👍🏻

[@2-old-Forthischet]

If you're waiting for any government of any type to help you become prosperous, you have already lost.

[@Zayistan]

Money each month? Untaxed? Not a part of my tax form? Completely free money? I would save it up, not spend a dime of it (unless an emergency happens) and start my own business, like a tshirt printing business (for my art to be spread) or save up for a master's program and boost my value in the workforce. But the business sounds better cuz I'm doing something I enjoy everyday and making more money in the long run by being my own master

[@jamesl9371]

Does free money work? Give money to the rich and it’s called incentives and stimulus for the economy. Give money to poor people and it’s called hand outs

[@DiscoFang]

Well related to your point this video proves why it works out that way. Give money to anyone any they'll basically continue doing what they did before the free money. So give money to the self-made rich and they will do exactly what they were doing before, which is often employing people or create things. They will really do something with it. Give it to the poor and it just subsidises exactly what they were doing before.

[@davidwebb2318]

Except the rich pay the taxes to fund these schemes....

[@jamesl9371]

@@davidwebb2318 almost everyone pays taxes. Of course the rich pay more because they have more. They are fortunate that they are still rich although they pay more taxes. Most people in these Nordic countries don’t mind paying the taxes. It’s an investment in the country and the people. They have good health care and education and infrastructure. They have a lower crime rate. Healthy people are good employees and happier. I think it’s a good thing

[@davidwebb2318]

@@jamesl9371 Yes most people pay taxes at the moment. If you gave everyone UBI the taxes everyone pays would have to go up to pay for it. BUT, as bigger proportion would be dependent on their UBI they would not be expected to pay extra taxes. That means a SMALLER number would have to pay taxes that are MUCH higher. Corporation taxes would also have to rise because it wouldn't be possible to raise personal taxes enough on a few people to cover the cost. Basically, handing out free money just devalues your currency and nobody gets anywhere. This kind of scheme has the added disadvantage that it encourages employers to become dependent on a subsidised workforce. That makes them less efficient. The extra corporation taxes that have to be charged to fund the scheme make people less likely to invest in new businesses so employment falls. More people become jobless and dependent on UBI because of this. The businesses become less competitive on the world stage and their profits shrink. That means they are less able to pay for the UBI taxes. Then the government has to either take on more debt or raise taxes which makes the downward spiral faster and more damaging. Basically, schemes like this are a socialist blueprint for how to fuck your economy. People are attracted to the idea because it sounds like free money. Some people like the idea because it sounds like a caring thing to do. Some people see it as a way to redistribute wealth. People who understand economics see it as a plan for economic suicide.

[@jamesl9371]

@@davidwebb2318 well it’s never been tried on a large scale for an extended period of time and so your postulations are just conjecture. Many policies accepted now like social security were also labeled socialism and would bring the end of the world. In fact policies that help the poor and middle class might reduce poverty and boost the economy. I hope we can see it happen

[@DeadFishFactory]

You know it failed when Reddit had a massive post about details of the study being available soon then suddenly the entire thing goes quiet.

[@mirjami87]

The idea is based on the norm that people want to work. And finns in general do follow this honor of providing for themself. However this will not always be the case if some people get the idea they now have kind of an free ticket in a society where there is already a system to cover for people who don't have money. The project is doomed to fail since these are the people who use the system wrong and will make it not sustainable

[@JJJJ-gl2uf]

I read many of the comments on here and I see how uninformed people are about the benefits of a guaranteed basic income. First benefit, it would lift a significant number of people out of the "working poor" category. If those people who are working 2-3 jobs just to scrape by got a boost to their income it might just be enough to allow them time to return to school to improve themselves. Second, if more people are receiving guaranteed income, then targeted government benefits like welfare, mother's allowance etc could be done away with. The third benefit - What it costs in additional spending it makes up in reduced bureaucracy for both the government and recipients. Guaranteed basic income isn't a "get rich quick" scheme designed to keep people dependent, it's designed to give people a lift and help them become more independent. It's an interesting experiment that seems worthwhile checking out, because what's happening in many countries right now is failing badly.

Agreed. I'm in favour but my plan would be frugal. Meaning UBI would be enough to keep you fed and a roof over your head and that's all. Then the incentive to work is the same; if you want to improve your life then you pursue a career.

[@saminyasaranabil920]

Is it really that hard to start something in Finland? I would have rather saved the amount for a year(560×12=6,720€) and start something at my own. The Journalist guy could have started a online news portal/blog or a KZbin channel.....which might eventually support him with a good income.👻

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

Why work though? With Finlands stupidly high taxes you'd end up losing money by earning more...

[@ZzraphMedia]

@@AdamSmith-gs2dv I fully agree with you. Finland is absolutely disgusting! They have a working social security system and working health care that isn't privatized yet. What an abomination of a country...

[@Sarmaamy]

Maybe he has already tried that. All the start ups don't succeed. It is quite difficult situation in journalism here. Many newspapers and other media has had big layoffs.

[@richardvass1462]

@@ZzraphMedia I've got a lot of Scandinavian and Finnish relatives but I can't go to Scandinavia because I don't have enough money and they don't take new citizens unless they're from the EU... or Asylum Seekers.

[@JonnyPowell]

How are you gonna eat for that year if you save literally all of your income?

[@lostn65]

TLDW: so if you give them the UBI they become dependent on it and without it, they're screwed. They won't find high enough paying jobs that they don't need the UBI anymore. Better not to introduce it in the first place, to make them self sufficient.

[@jackchueh1231]

Learn to code 😀

[@richardvass1462]

AI will take those jobs too. It would be better to learn to repair electric cars or become a plumber. Or maybe go into Healthcare service work. Not everything will be automated. But a lot of White Collar jobs will disappear because of AI.

[@xWood4000]

That is actually a really good market in Finland, a lot of companies are hiring, even people with not that much experience. AI is also a big enough buzzword to give people jobs. (Someone has to create the AIs)

[@gregoryfuller1136]

Best comment!

[@gregoryfuller1136]

Whoooosh!!! On everyone replying...

[@ukar69]

I get it at least. A commentary on the ever desperate and lowering quality of the journalists who are being laid off because they’ve become nothing but partisan rage bait merchants.

[@enkelix]

Has no much money yet has a dog.... Excellent choice, girl... I live in Finland and in a low income. Having kids or pets (especially dogs which I would LOVE to have) is a total NO, NO.

[@repeat7023]

"But this was not real basic income."

[@ThatsRight1776]

Ahh yes, that tired line... but that wasn't 'real' socialism.

[@EchoVids2u]

When people refer to socialism, the number 1 go to is Venezuela never countries like Finland. The propaganda on socialism is unreal.

[@jenniferosborne7210]

Finland is not socialist, it is a free market economy with generous social programs. Can't compare to Venezuela.

[@ericholdsworth6611]

early this morning my crap produced a more in depth story on if this plan is working

[@davidwebb2318]

That's the BBC News operation for you. They only have 6,000 staff, what are you expecting, an in depth analysis or something?!?!?!?

[@JoannaHammond]

What was the point of that? No information, no analysis and no conclusion.

[@irwincrook567]

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.

[@salmaabdullahgb]

Lame

[@atmathoughts2871]

Irwin Crook teach billions of man how to fish and man will make fish extinct. :)

[@gadblatz4841]

Give a man a fishing rod, and he can fish, teach a man to fish and he'll still starve without a rod.

[@bobofthestorm]

@@gadblatz4841 How stupid and lazy do you have to be to not find or fashion yourself a fishing rod? You were given the education and know how to fish and yet you still wait for somebody to give you a fishing rod? Typical "liberal" self entitled mentality, you were already given the opportunity to fish on your own and you still wait for big brother government to provide you with a fishing rod. One must produce their own future and not have government provide it to them.

[@jaronmeshileichenbaum9934]

Vegetarian Gains i wouldn’t either the ocean is polluted with mercury microplastics and gender changing hormones but plants aren’t safe either but still better to have heavy metals,pig excrements in it instead of a estrogen rich soyfed animal product ohh wai.... just remembered wasabi isn’t real either mindblown just a substitute

[@VokeVideo]

80 job applications in 2 years.... less than 1 a week. What a poor video, shame on the BBC for this. But we need to see UBI work on a massive scale. This trial is irrelevant. It should be rolled out nationally in 1 country with the support of all or most other countries, for 5 years. Because we just don't know. My guess is it would make the world a better place and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.

[@draconusspiritus1037]

Does anyone know the difference between Finland's 'Basic Income' experiment and Welfare? The number of letters used to name it. Much like the claim of Socialism isn't Socialism if it's DEMOCRATIC Socialism. They think to avoid the stigma associated with handing out WELFARE by changing the name to 'Basic Income'. Changing the NAME doesn't change what it is. It is money that the Government takes from someone who is working. And giving it to someone who is NOT working. The majority of whom probably COULD work if they just got off their asses and went looking for a job. If there are just plain no jobs to be had it's a sure sign the policies your Government Officials endorse are not working. Of course it being Government, the exchange rate is idiotic in its level of inefficiency.

[@draconusspiritus1037]

@Sydney Piper Bristow, getting paid for being a lazy, greedy, SLOB. And just how is that any different than the current Welfare System? Tell me please just how much do you deserve of what someone else produces? The Government cannot give to you what it does not first take away from someone else. Who are you to say how much someone else deserves for their efforts? Who are you to say how much of THEIR income they an AFFORD to hand over to you? For no other reason than you are too damned lazy to earn it yourself. A hell of a lot of people died for the sole purpose of putting an end to Slavery in the US. Are you that determined to bring it back?

[@davidwebb2318]

Couldn't agree more. This idea sounds great to lazy socialists but in reality it would never work. All that would happen is that companies would use it as a way to subsidise the income of their employees. That means lower wages and therefore lower tax revenue. If you are going to pay some of people's income out of central funding then you need MORE tax revenue not less. All that would happen to any country adopting this is that national debt would rise and the economy would become less efficient. It would be a downward spiral and a sure fire way of taking an advanced economy and ruining it.

[@draconusspiritus1037]

@@davidwebb2318 , it wouldn't even do as much as you say. What difference does it make if a Company pays Workers or if that same Company pays that much more in taxes so the PUBLIC pays the Workers? The end result for the Company is the same either way. If anything, the Company paying the Workers costs them less in the long run. What they pay to Workers they can then write off as a Business Expense and so pay less taxes. What they pay in taxes is just GONE. Unless of course they have an 'In' with assorted bureaucrats to get highly profitable Government Contracts.

[@davidwebb2318]

@@draconusspiritus1037 The administration of collect the tax and then paying it out again as UBI means money is lost. No government tax administration is free so not all the money collected is handed back out. This is the problem with a lot of socialist fantasies like this. Money spent on public administration is a drain on the efficiency of the economy. When you damage productivity you end up with a country that is poorer.

[@draconusspiritus1037]

@@davidwebb2318, just remember that More Tax Revenue does not always equate to More Taxes. With more people gainfully employed instead of depending on Welfare. That is more tax revenue going in even if lower taxes are being charged. As well, fewer people on Welfare is less Government Spending on Welfare.

[@brpitrepeters7983]

Most poor people want to work but health problems keep them from working. If people had 100$ a week after the bare essentials of rent, medications and food the extra money could be used for better food and clothes and maybe a medium coffee every now and then. Life is a living hell for some people. Every day is full of anxiety and depression for some poor people

[@KA-ev9xk]

why doesn't the author apply to McDonald's if he can't find a journalist job?

[@Amadeus-ms9lt]

They'd say he's over qualified.

[@xWood4000]

Because even McDonald's is pretty occupied here, have never seen a McDonald's job listing, only new chains like Taco Bell who came here last year or the year before.

[@PaleandPastey]

He should Learn to Code.

[@rich2583]

@@Amadeus-ms9lt that is a bullshit excuse instead of saying, "college educated people shouldn't have to do actual work"

[@rich2583]

@Lei P there are still jobs. These are excuses. Mc Donald's isn't the only entry level retail position. There are thousands of places to work.

[@allen-rp3gm]

Tanya sure bought a lot of cheese during the 2 years.

[@1stGruhn]

After college I had applied to over 300 jobs before I got offered 1... it took over a year and half of working multiple part time jobs before getting a job that paid enough to only work one job... even though it was a poor paying job nevertheless... you make hard decisions but don't rely on the government.

[@reaccionapr]

The blue collar worker found a job in whatever was available could find. The journalist, it would appear, was too good for anything other than journalism.

[@jen_wren_x]

Yay Tanya you can "buy the good cheese" now!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@mshafer1021]

That “good cheese” was starting to show on her waistline

[@garyk.nedrow8302]

The Universal Basic Income gave the woman the time and financial security to find a job; it did not improve her marketable skills. For the educated journalist, it did not open new opportunities or retrain him for gainful employment. But what if they had enough income for life to live comfortably without working, as Elon Musk claims AI would make possible? What would they do without the need to work? They would become mere consumers. If they are creative, they might write books no one will read, or make crafts no would buy, or get into mischief. But basically they are excess people with nothing worth doing. This is precisely the useless state in which all retirees, the very rich, and welfare recipients currently live. UBI would create more problems than it solves. Instead, we need to create more opportunities for people to do something meaningful with their lives. AI makes production more efficient by eliminating jobs. What we need is a mechanism for creating new jobs for the millions of people with non-technical abilities. Who is working on that?

[@CheezeBanana]

Free Cheese and beer i can get on that band wagon.

[@jeffreyfwagner]

It appears that there is no term in Finnish that means "transferable skills" (or a tolerance for change).

[@conradbaker175]

So you havent had a job for 5 years? You get whatever cheese you get...

[@Gurkishh]

@@CS88528 why be so mean? maybe she suffers from mental illness or went through something traumatic.

[@goondocksaints9597]

@st. surreal You have restaurants in Finland? How much training/education is required to work in a restaurant?

[@goondocksaints9597]

@st. surreal Well good luck with your search, sincerely. I never liked my restaurant jobs that much but they were always easy to get. I understand that's not always how it works.

[@timitsasecret6709]

@@goondocksaints9597 aaaahhh my youth washing dishes after dishes, some times i had up to 10000 plates and bowls, on weekend nights, so yes i agree there are jobs, but some people think their more honor in getting a hand out and pitty than cleaning toilets, plates, streets, some people think their no dignity in a job that needs a mop and bucket, or a brome, because everyone wants the top job with top money without working for it, oh and did everyone miss the guy saying in the 2yrs he applied of over 80 jobs, only 80 fing jobs in 2 yrs,

[@User-wt9jk]

Elin H so now society has to pay for her high demands?

[@kevinorgan7312]

Maybe this would have been better served with, you know, data. Nobody can make policy decisions based on anecdotes. The BBC veers further and further away from journalistic integrity with each passing minute.

[@algallego]

Journalists have never been in high demand... reality's bottom line dictates: find another line of work!

[@neondrivercartman3569]

Their not journalists any more there story tellers

[@algallego]

@@neondrivercartman3569 You're right! They're not! They're just lousy, yet deceitful fablers for whomever is writing their checks and editing their byline contributions!

[@graham9334]

Everyone dreams about sitting on their ass til they perish into dust but so few succeed

[@havenhemmings3574]

The BBC used to be informative-not any more

[@NJIStudios]

Now they are just a category of porn. LOLOLOLOL

[@davidwebb2318]

That is the BBC for you. Their journalists wouldn't be able to present any statistics. They can only present feelings and emotions. That is why the BBC is a complete waste of money.

[@rawgtp]

2 years later, looks like she’s had herself several servings of that good cheese.

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

" I haven't worked since 2013, I'm a Journalist ..." Then get a different line of work Pal! The world doesn't need more journalists! How about plumbing?

[@roberttommola6541]

For all of you wondering. The UBI experiment failed.

[@panwerv7618]

How did it fail and where did you get this information?

[@roberttommola6541]

Pan Werv it didn’t raise the employment rate, which was its main purpose. I live in Finland it was a big thing here everyone knows about this.

[@douglasthompson9070]

@@roberttommola6541 Thanks for the info, but it's not a shocker! If I made the money I make from my job without working at my job then why would I even go to work? My working goal is to retire. I would think that goal is what most people's goal in life. Does Finland think that most people only work for fun?

[@roberttommola6541]

Douglas Thompson it might seem like that’d be the case. But nearly every political party (social democrats, green party) want to give more social benefits to the unemployed, they don’t realise that it passivates the job seekers and that those who receive social benefits are actually miserable, they’d be a lot more happier if they got jobs. There is one party (the coalition party) pulling back on this agenda and actually are trying to create more jobs instead of increasing s.b. If it wasn’t for this party Finland would be doomed.

[@jasonzheng4893]

Damn if you want dat good cheese then go get that good cheese who's stopping you?

[@treeaboo]

Not being able to afford the good cheese? Police preventing you from taking the good cheese?

[@highbrass3749]

Laziness.

[@johnzientek735]

The intro sentence "Does free money work?" Well it seems to work for the government in the form of taxation that the people work for and have to turn over to the tax man. It seems to work for corporate grants the government hands out to corporations in the form tax abatements or expansion type programs "corporate welfare". What would work is that you allow every wage earner keep the full amount of their pay and not tax them. Wage earners are not working for profit they are working to feed their families. There is a difference between working to have a decent comfortable life for you and your family and making profit and trying to gain market share. There is a dollar amount when it begins to be profit that number is relative to the cost of living in any given demographic for individuals or families.

[@davidwebb2318]

You are right, but socialists never think that lower taxes are better. They are addicted to taking people's money and spending it on vanity projects. Socialists have virtually zero underdstanding of real world economics.

[@robgoren8628]

Does basic income work?? Sure AF works for the banks, but they call it "Infinite Quantitative Easing," which is fancy language for basic income for billionaires.

[@kermitdafrog8]

What I don't understand is why didn't the journalist use his skills to earn money. Free lance, write books, anything.

[@wadebradley7388]

I'm actually dumber now than I was 6 mins ago.

[@davidwebb2318]

That's the BBC News operation for you. They only have 6,000 staff, what are you expecting, an in depth analysis or something?!?!?!?

[@jbamerican_usnavy]

The purpose of social welfare to get you back on your feet working. Handing out money destroys a person's will to achieve. All you have to do is look at the ghettos in America and see the end result of government dependence.