SHARE
COPY LINK

JOBS

Germany set to launch new universal basic income trial

A group of people are to receive €1,200 'universal basic income' per month for three years in a new German study.

Germany set to launch new universal basic income trial
Those chosen to take part will receive €1,200 per month. Photo: DPA

Germany is launching a new trial to find out how universal basic income affects the attitude and lives of those who receive it.

As part of the Pilotprojekt Grundeinkommen (Basic Income Pilot Project) study, 120 people will receive €1,200 each month for three years.

READ ALSO: How to apply for Germany's €1,200 a month basic income experiment

Researchers will compare their experiences with another group of 1,380 people who will not receive the cash.

It's being run by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) and Mein Grundeinkommen (My Basic Income), a startup based in Berlin, which has been giving opportunities to people for one-year payments of €1,000 per month for six years now.

Why is it being carried out?

The aim is to gain a scientific understanding on how people's behaviour and attitudes change when they receive money regularly without conditions, reported Spiegel who interviewed DIW researcher Jürgen Schupp.

Do those who receive it become lazy, or creative? Do they shorten their working hours or give up their jobs altogether?

Do they use the extra time and money only for themselves, or do they get involved with communities for the benefit of society?

MUST READ: Berlin mayor backs ‘basic income' to tackle capital's unemployment

Researchers want to find 1 million applicants by November. A total of 20,000 people will be randomly selected and extensively interviewed about their life situation.

From that group, 1,500 people will be selected for the three-year income experiment. A total of 120 will receive the basic income and 1,380, who will not get money, will form the comparison group.

It is scheduled to kick off next spring.

Schupp said the research group wants to discover how a “reliable, unconditional flow of money affects people’s attitudes and behaviour”.

He said: “We are the first to examine the basic income in this way and at this level.”

Academics want a real mix of people to take part.

Schupp said it was important that some people in the sample are “rather negative towards the basic income, so as not to distort the results from the outset”.

What value will the study have to society?

Schupp said the current debate on basic income is currently not really based on hard evidence.  The study aims to provide “empirically proven knowledge” to aid the debate on introducing universal basic income.

“Opponents claim that with a basic income people would stop working in order to lie on the couch with fast food and streaming services,” he said.

“Proponents argue that people will continue to do fulfilling work, become more creative and charitable, and save democracy. We can improve this (debate) if we replace these stereotypes with empirically proven knowledge.”

How is it being funded?

The project has already attracted 140,000 private donors. The study has also brought on board renowned scientists, including behavioural economists, psychologists and public welfare researchers.

SEE ALSO: Berlin startup offers a year with no money worries

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

GERMAN TRADITIONS

What’s open and closed in Germany over the Easter weekend?

People in Germany get a four day weekend over Easter. How are shops, transport and medical services affected by the public holidays?

What's open and closed in Germany over the Easter weekend?

Easter itself falls very early this year: Easter Sunday also coincides with the clocks going forward an hour for summertime, while Easter Monday in 2024 is on April Fool’s Day.

The Easter weekend starts on Friday March 29th, however, many Germans take some days before and after the weekend to extend their holiday. 

Whether you live in Germany or are visiting, here’s what to expect:

READ ALSO: What exactly is Germany’s Green Thursday?

Gründonnerstag or Green Thursday 

Gründonnerstag or Green Thursday falls on March 28th this year. 

This isn’t an official public holiday although some companies do give this day off to staff as a gesture. 

Many people in Germany book this day off themselves as part of their annual leave to extend their Easter holiday. 

One thing you should be aware of – shops will be busy with lots of queues on this day since the following day is a holiday. 

Karfreitag or Good Friday

In Germany, Good Friday, which is on March 29th, is a public holiday or Feiertag. 

Traditionally no church bells are supposed to ring and no music should be played as this is the day Jesus was crucified. The word Kar comes from old German Kara, meaning sorrow or grief.
 
For many parts of Germany, this quiet time also means it is still illegal to dance on Good Friday. But whether anyone actually enforces this is another question.

In general, you can except the majority of workplaces to be shut as well as schools.

Supermarkets, retail stores and pharmacies also won’t be open (except for a few in areas such as train stations) so make sure you have enough groceries at home. 

Restaurants and cafes are usually open on public holidays and eager to accept customers. 

Saturday

Opening hours across the country will function as they normally do on Saturday March 30th. 

But do expect supermarkets to be super busy because they are closed on the following two days.

Ostern or Easter Sunday

Like any other Sunday in Germany, shops and supermarkets will be closed. 

People in Germany often like to spend this day with families so you should expect lots of people of all ages doing activities like a walk in the forest or park, Easter egg hunts or going to church. 

Chocolate Easter eggs are not a big tradition in Germany compared to other places like the UK, for example. But there are still plenty of chocolate bunnies around. 

READ ALSO: 10 ways to celebrate Easter in Germany like a local

An Easter hare statue outside ah ouse in Coburg, Bavaria.

An Easter hare statue outside ah ouse in Coburg, Bavaria. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Daniel Vogl

Ostermontag or Easter Monday

This falls on April 1st and is another public holiday in Germany. 

Once again, that means workplaces are closed as well as shops, post offices and supermarkets. 

What about public transport?

Public transport runs all throughout the holiday period, but on public holidays there is normally a Sunday schedule. 

Nationwide train services also run across the period (but keep in mind that there could be a strike since we’ve seen a lot of them lately). 

What about schools?

Schools in Germany will be closed on Easter Monday and Good Friday.

Pupils also get a holiday that usually lasts two weeks around Easter, known as the Osterferien. 

Schools in Bremen, Hamburg and Lower Saxony started their break on March 18th. 

Other states follow around March 23rd-25th. Schleswig-Holstein schools are the latest to start their break, which runs from April 2nd to April 19th.

READ ALSO: What days will workers in Germany get off in 2024?

Doctors, pharmacies and hospitals 

Doctors’ offices and pharmacies are usually closed on public holidays, such as Good Friday and Easter Monday.

But you could still try calling your GP firstly in case they have a message letting you know the details of the on-call doctor. 

You can also contact the non-emergency medical on-call service by calling 116 117 who can advise you if you have urgent questions about your health.

You can also head to the 116117 website to find a local surgery that offers emergency services.

In an emergency, call 112 for the fire brigade or ambulance or 110 for the police. 

Make sure you are stocked up on any medications you need before the public holidays. 

Tourist attractions

Many tourist attractions will be open as normal throughout the Easter period, including Good Friday and Easter Monday but some may operate altered opening hours. Check the attraction’s opening hours before visiting. 

SHOW COMMENTS