1
Everyone keeps working
Contrary to what is often claimed, receiving a basic income does not cause study participants to give up their jobs: The proportion of people in the workforce remains virtually identical in both research groups. There is also little change in the number of hours worked per week. On average, study participants receiving a basic income work 39 hours per week in paid employment—one hour less than those without a basic income.
With a basic income, study participants work an average of one hour less in paid employment. They often do this with the goal of furthering their education or reducing their commute time.
In addition, study participants receiving a basic income report that it gives them more than 5 hours per week for social interactions, sleep, and exercise. (More on this under the section on self-determination.) With an average of one hour less paid work, they thus gain an average of more than 5 hours of time that they can invest in themselves and others.
2
More job changes
During the three-year study period, a significantly higher percentage of the basic income group changed jobs compared to the control group.
These job changes mostly occurred within the first 18 months of the payout period.
3
Greater satisfaction in working life
After 18 months, participants receiving a basic income were significantly more satisfied with their working lives – regardless of whether or not they had changed jobs.
4
More further education
In addition to more frequent job changes, the study data also shows that the basic income group devoted more attention to continuing education. The percentage of those who enrolled in academic studies increased significantly compared to the control group.
5
Greater satisfaction with income
Satisfaction with income was significantly higher in the basic income group than in the control group. Even though this effect might seem obvious, it is essential for the study: it proves that the study design is coherent and measures what it is intended to measure.