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A 2nd Working Paper Shows That People Who Receive a Guaranteed Income Tend to Work Less

It’s not the answer universal basic income supporters want.
A 2nd Working Paper Shows That People Who Receive a Guaranteed Income Tend to Work Less
A huge poster reading “What would you do if your income were taken care of?” is pictured on the Plaine de Plainpalais square in Geneva on May 14, 2016. Magali Girardin/Keystone via AP
Peter Jacobsen
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Commentary
In October 2024, I reported on the release of the largest research project ever on universal basic income (UBI). The study’s results were disappointing for advocates of the idea. In short, the research showed that many people who received the income reduced their hours working and increased leisure time. Furthermore, people didn’t use their leisure time in any of the productive activities advocates often claim (e.g., self-improvement, entrepreneurship, time with family).
Peter Jacobsen
Peter Jacobsen
Author
Peter Jacobsen is a writing fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE). He teaches economics and holds the positions of assistant professor of economics at Ottawa University and Gwartney Professor of Economic Education and Research at the Gwartney Institute. He received his graduate education at George Mason University.