Jan 24, 2022 07:00:00

Researchers report experimental results that 'the introduction of basic income does not lose people's motivation to work'

While basic income , in which the government pays a fixed amount to the people on a regular basis, is expected as a new form of social security system, 'when we introduce basic income, in which a fixed amount is paid even if we do not work, people There is also a concern that the motivation to work may be discouraged. ' However, researchers at Leiden University in the Netherlands claim that 'experiments have shown that basic income does not reduce people's willingness to work.'

Basic income would not reduce people's willingness to work --Leiden University
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2022/01/basic-income-would-not-reduce-peoples-willingness-to-work

Assistant Professor Fenna Poletiek , a cognitive psychologist at Leiden University, received a grant from the Dutch Trade Union Federation to study the effects of basic income on behavior, and the impact of various forms of social security on work motivation. I did an experiment to find out.

The research team imitated 'monthly work' by imposing boring computer tasks such as 'marking on the bar' on subjects and paying more to complete the task. In addition, the subjects were classified into three groups: 'no social security,' 'conditional social security system,' and 'unconditional basic income.'

The 'no social security' group received no special security and was simply paid according to the outcome of the computer task. In the 'conditional social security system', the base reward was paid only under the condition that the task was not performed, but when the task was performed, the base reward disappeared and the reward was paid according to the result of the task. In 'Unconditional Basic Income', the same base reward as in 'Conditional Social Security System' was paid, and the base reward continued to be paid even if the task was performed.

As a result of the experiment, it was found that in the group assigned to 'unconditional basic income', the subject's motivation and effort for the task did not decrease even though the base reward was provided. 'In discussions about basic income, it's said that'if you give away free money, some people will sit down and do nothing,'' said Poletiek. Experiments confirm that basic income reduces work motivation. Claims not to be done.

On the other hand, it was confirmed that the group assigned to the 'conditional social security system', which does not receive compensation for performing tasks, adversely affects work motivation and task results. 'When you start a job and you lose profits, you quickly lose motivation,' said research team

Erik de Kwaadsteniet.

'This is an obstacle to urging people to seek employment. This'profit trap'encourages people to take risk-averse actions,' said Poletiek. If a person with a guarantee finds a job, it could be a better situation in the future, but at the same time it is an uncertain situation. If the guarantee is maintained, this uncertainty will occur. I don't, 'he said, arguing that under a system where the guarantee is cut off when you get a job, you may lose your motivation to work as a result of your dislike of risk.

In addition, past studies have shown the possibility that 'women will stop working when they receive basic income,' said Poletiek. 'In sociology research, basic income is not desirable for women's participation in work. I understand. ' However, in this experiment using computer tasks, there was no gender difference in the effect of basic income on work motivation.

Regarding this result, Poletiek said, 'This shows that what we found in past sociological experiments is not just about gender.' 'In general, women earn less than men, She takes on most of her family care responsibilities, so receiving a basic income makes her more likely to choose household chores in exchange for work. '

Furthermore, when we investigated the subjects of the experiment, such as 'ambition for work', 'feeling of wanting to do their best in work', and 'motivation to aim for a desirable job', the subjects who received basic income were more than the subjects in other groups. I also found that these motivations were high. Poletiek argues that guaranteed basic income may help people find the job that suits them best. 'The matching between employers and employees will also improve,' he said, adding that the introduction of basic income would also benefit employers.