Finland ending their Universal Basic Income program...

[mjr]

Let me guess...they were doing it wrong.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/24/b...ic-income.html

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...c-income-dream

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...fter-two-years

But the Finnish government’s decision to halt the experiment at the end of 2018 highlights a challenge to basic income’s very conception. Many people in Finland — and in other lands — chafe at the idea of handing out cash without requiring that people work.

“There is a problem with young people lacking secondary education, and reports of those guys not seeking work,” said Heikki Hiilamo, a professor of social policy at the University of Helsinki. “There is a fear that with basic income they would just stay at home and play computer games.”

[Daskinor]

The basic income trial, which started at the beginning of 2017 and will continue until the end of this year, has given monthly stipends of 560 euros ($685) to a random sample of 2,000 unemployed people aged 25 to 58. Recipients have been free to do as they wished — create start-ups, pursue alternate jobs, take classes — secure in the knowledge that the stipends would continue regardless.

The Finnish government was keen to see what people would do under such circumstances. The data is expected to be released next year, giving academics a chance to analyze what has come of the experiment.

It did not work out the way they wanted, and want to try something different. And it was not even a full blown program, just a trial to see what would happen. Apparently they were trying to see if this would fix an issue with their unemployment system.

Not sure what the concern is about. They identified a problem, tried a solution. Was not satisfied with the results. Going to try something different.