Feb 17, 2019

The abrupt end of Finland's universal basic income trial

a hand with scissors cutting a money ribbon in the shape of a Finnish flag

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios

It's not just the Trump administration that has problems with expectations management. A recent basic-income trial in Finland was cut short by the incoming conservative government, before preliminary results came out showing improved health and reduced stress among people receiving a no-strings €560 ($640) per month.

Why it matters: No one seems to have thought much about what would happen when the trial came to an end. One recipient told the Huffington Post: “We all are in big trouble now to be honest, because what would happen to you if your income decreased by €600?”

Go deeper ... Podcast: The growth of universal basic income

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