Authors

• Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA)

Keywords

health status, social security, social security benefits, trust, unemployment, unemployment benefits, well-being (health)

Abstract

This survey was conducted as part of the Finnish basic income experiment (2017-2018). During the experiment, a total of 2,000 unemployed persons between 25 and 58 years of age received an unconditional monthly payment of 560 euros. The test group in this study includes those who received basic income in the experiment, and the control group consists of persons who had received unemployment benefits in November 2016. Main themes of the survey included social and financial well-being, subjective health, job-search activity and employment. Additionally, attitudes regarding basic income and other social security were charted. The study was funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela).

First, the respondents' status in employment was surveyed and the ways in which the respondents had found work in the past few years were charted (e.g. by responding to a job advertisement, through a TE office, through an acquaintance). The respondents' general satisfaction with life was examined, and they were asked to what extent they felt they had been able to achieve various things in their life (e.g. confidence in their own future or financial situation, opportunity to influence social issues). Some questions focused on the respondents' health in general as well as their use of various health care services (e.g. number of visits to a nurse, general practitioner or dentist). The respondents were also presented with questions on how they had been feeling in the past four weeks, for example, whether they had felt very nervous or happy. Feelings of depression, loss of interest in things and stress were also surveyed.

The sources from which the respondents' household got income were examined next, and they were asked how well they got by with the current income of their household. The respondents' views on several statements regarding their own financial affairs were charted (e.g. "my finances are well under control and I pay my bills on time" and "I can manage my finances without unnecessary bureaucracy"). Trust in other people and various institutions, such as Parliament, the judicial system, politicians, and the social security system, was examined. The respondents were asked whether they would vote if the parliamentary elections were held now. Finally, the respondents were presented with various statements on basic income, for example, whether they thought implementing basic income would reduce the bureaucracy involved in taking on work and whether basic income should be implemented as a permanent form of social security in Finland.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, highest level of education, economic activity and occupational status, household composition, number of children, annual gross income of the household and the respondent, status in employment, the year when the respondent became unemployed, NUTS2 region of residence, and statistical grouping of municipalities.