German experiment gave people a basic monthly income – the effect on their work ethic was surprising | CNN
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A German experiment has found that people are likely to continue working full-time even if they receive no-strings-attached universal basic income payments.

A German experiment has found that people are likely to continue working full-time even if they receive no-strings-attached universal basic income payments.

Archived version: https://archive.is/20250412140637/https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/11/health/germany-universal-basic-income-study-intl-scli-wellness/index.html

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  • Rikudou_Sage@lemmings.worldEnglish
    16·
    2 days ago

    Artificially inflating prices to cancel out UBI would create economic incentive to undercut those corporations in a free market.

    That hasn’t worked historically for any reason and UBI is not so magical that the whole of capitalism will sit on its ass and stop doing what it’s doing.

    Government intervention could also be used in a less free market to ensure subsistence items aren’t artificially inflated, after that who cares if some company inflates their price? Go work if you want a new shiny thing.

    Pretty much the same response as above, good luck with that.

    You know what’s really good? Having a safety net to prevent the lowest suffering class of our society dying from things that we’ve been able to prevent for decades.

    Having reduced crime because people aren’t fighting over scraps.

    Having more mobility in society so people can pursure careers and education that aligns with their own self fulfilment goals.

    Fully agree, I don’t see how that relates to UBI, though.

    Stop fighting against a better world for all of us please.

    I’m not, I’m just trying to explain that while UBI sounds good on paper, it can’t work and never will. It’s free money for everyone who owns capital, be it landlord or huge chains. They’ll have your UBI, you’ll have nothing and you’ll pay for it from your taxes, because rich don’t pay their taxes, definitely not the amount they should. So, where in that is your better world?

    • Gronk@aussie.zoneEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      I get the point youre trying to make but a UBI is still a step in the right direction, I’d rather take the gamble and pay my taxes on it than have what we do now.

      At the very least it would expose a lot of the systemic issues you’ve mentioned to the broader public, and hopefully that would lead to meaningful change.

      I’d prefer a world where people are guaranteed the basics to survive without having to capitulate to the system, we have the technlogical progress and productive capabilities to do this we’re just not there in terms of societal progression.

      And I’m going to continue advocating for that world, whether it’s UBI or unbiased infrastructure and systems to provide people with basic needs

      • Rikudou_Sage@lemmings.worldEnglish
        12·
        2 days ago

        I’d prefer a world where people are guaranteed the basics to survive without having to capitulate to the system, we have the technlogical progress and productive capabilities to do this we’re just not there in terms of societal progression.

        I get that and I agree, but I don’t think giving everyone money that can be stolen by the usual suspects is the solution. Safety nets are the way to go, not UBI.

        If someone some day proves me wrong, I’ll be happy to admit I was wrong, though I’m not gonna support UBI until that happens, because of the issues I outlined.