UBI increases wellbeing and Mental Health of workers

Previous studies have shown that one of the best individual measurements of wellbeing is satisfaction with life. Satisfaction with life was measured by a variable where the value 0 on a scale from 0 to 10 means very high dissatisfaction with life and the value 10 very high satisfaction with life. In the test group the average value for satisfaction with life was 7.32 and in the control group 6.76. The difference is statistically highly significant (p=< .0001). The difference remained significant even when we controlled for the background variables: gender, age, education, structure of the household and income. The same applies basically to all statistically significant differences between the groups presented below. Table 5 compares the test group and the control group as regards trust in other persons, the legal system and politicians. Trust in other persons refers to so-called generalised trust, which according to previous international studies is high in Finland and the other Nordic countries. 8 One explanation for the high level of trust has been the universal way of delivering benefits and services in the Nordic welfare states.9 Furthermore, the perception of a sufficient level for social security benefits is connected to a higher level of trust. 10 In this study, all three dimensions of trust are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 10 where the value 0 indicates total distrust and the value 10 the highest possible level of trust.

In a population survey carried out by Kela in 2017, the average level of generalised trust for the whole population was 7.4. Table 5 shows that the level of generalised trust is lower than for the whole population in both the test group and the control group. However, in the group that received basic income, trust in other persons is at a slightly higher level than in the control group.

Table 5. Trust in other persons, the legal system and politicians

Trust in other persons Trust in the legal system Trust in politicians

Test Control Test Control Test Control

Avg 6.68 6.30 6.62 6.30 4.28 3.80

Standard deviation 2.33 2.50 2.58 2.61 2.70 2.69

Statistical significance .0030 .0183 .0007

Previous research on institutional trust has shown that people’s level of trust varies from one institution to another. Institutions that enjoy a high level of trust are often institutions for which there are no alternatives – often we are talking about established societal institutions such as the defence forces, the police or the legal system. Then again, political institutions – which people can influence directly – are least trusted. Such institutions are, for instance, Parliament, political parties and the Government.11 According to previous studies, the average level of trust among Finns in the legal system was 6.9 and the level of trust in politicians 5.23. 12 Table 5 shows that the results for the test group and the control group are in line with previous studies in that the level of trust in the legal system is considerably higher than the level of trust in politicians. In both the test group and the control group, the level of trust in the institutions studied is lower than for the whole population, however. Similar differences between the groups can be seen when generalised trust is analysed. In the test group, the level of trust in the legal system and in politicians is slightly higher than in the control group. On the whole, the results show that the level of trust is slightly higher among basic income recipients than in the control group. The statistical significance of the The proponents of basic income13 have emphasised its emancipatory nature: the basic income gives people the possibility to be creative, is empowering and diminishes financial insecurity. In the same manner as regards the generalised level of trust, the basic income has been said to increase people's level of confidence not only in their own financial situation but also in their own capabilities and their own future. Table 6 presents results for the test group and the control group concerning the question of the extent to which confidence in one’s own future, one’s own financial situation and one’s own ability to influence societal issues has been satisfied during the previous year