Germany begins trial with a basic income of 1,200 euros per month | Capital

Project funds come from donations of 181,000 people. The intent is to investigate the impact of basic income in the context of a scientific study.

“Over the next three years, we want to investigate empirically whether the unconditional and regular payment of an amount of money that covers more than the minimum subsistence level affects people’s behavior, and how it affects people’s behavior,” says Scientific Director Jürgen Schöpp of the German Institute. (DIW).

A similar study was done earlier, but on a smaller scale. It dates back to 2017 and lasted for one year. At that time, about 85 people received 1,000 euros per month. But the test subjects were primarily low-income people, while anyone can now apply. Thus the basic income received can also be combined with the job: funds are deposited unconditionally.

Candidates are between 21 and 40 years old, which is the age at which, according to the researchers, people make the most important decisions for the rest of their lives. “We want to see to what extent basic income influences those decisions,” said one of the initiators, Michael Boomer.

The research is supported by the Max Planck Institute and the University of Cologne.