There are many stories of people who won the lottery and lived a free and careless life for a while and then cursed the day they bought their lucky ticket. Many people who have never won the lottery cannot always understand why those who won it do not relax for the rest of their days.
What’s even more difficult to understand is how these people decide to go to work when they don’t even need the money. Basic income experiments were carried out in different countries to determine what people would do if they received enough money to cover their basic expenses.
It turns out that people who get free money end up working even harder. We decided to dig deeper and found that money is not enough for harmony and happiness.
So, What Else Do We Gain From Our Work, Except For The Money It Brings?
You Keep Your Life Under Control.
Your work is an anchor in your life that helps you to be sure of your future. It gives you a certain sense of security and stability. You know, whatever happens, there is a place where you are expected to be at a certain time on certain days.
You Meet New People.
There are many movies about romance in the workplace, which is no surprise. Mutual work brings people together and allows them to get to know each other better. You can also meet great friends at work.
You Look After Your Appearance.
Work motivates people to get up at a certain time and get ready. A person who looks good also feels good.
It Helps You Fight Boredom And Depression.
Work is an effective remedy for depression because it requires your full attention and distracts you from negative thoughts.
You Are Motivated And Disciplined.
The job isn’t exactly military training, of course, but it’s still good for your willpower and discipline. Thanks to your work, you have certain rules and rituals, you can plan your time and learn to manage your time and money.
It Nurtures Your Ego.
Each one has their image of themselves and what they aspire to be. Many people strive to reach the top of their careers, while others find it important to do what they love to do, without focusing on their position.
You Can Change The World.
Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Mark Zuckerberg could lead effortless lives and never work. But they continue to present interesting and functional things. Giving people something they need is a very strong motivation.
Does Unconditional Income Bring Happiness?
A study conducted at the University of Oxford showed that 47% of occupations will disappear in the next 20 years due to an automated environment. As a result, the unemployment rate will be extremely high. But what if some people get free money?
8 basic income experiments were launched in different countries of the world at the beginning of last year. These experiments were very successful in Namibia and Kenya, where participants received $ 10-30 per month.
They began to eat better and take care of their health. And some of them even started their own business! Furthermore, the crime rate has decreased. Some people didn’t really have the money to improve their lives, so they valued every dollar they received.
With that money, they could buy farm tools or a sewing machine to help them earn more money.
The experiment in Finland also showed very interesting results. 2,000 unemployed received € 560 per month for 2 years. That money must have increased their sense of stability and security and must have motivated them to seek permanent employment.
However, the program had to stop after a year, as the researchers decided that 2 years was not enough time to base their conclusions, while 560 euros was too little for the expensive life of Finland. But authorities were unable to provide a larger budget for the continuation of the study.
Basic income can definitely make people happier, but only if they use money correctly. For example, part of that money could be invested, while the other part could be used to create an emergency fund.
Natural Money Cycle
“What if people could provide each other with basic income?” Scott Santens thought of and launched a crowdfunding campaign that earned him $ 1,000 a month in donations from different people.
Scott says that the basic income is not a reason to stop working, but an opportunity to find your true calling and insurance in case of unforeseen circumstances.
However, the German company Mein Grundeinkommen achieved even greater results: 19,000 people provided a basic income for 13 people in Germany.
Martin Ford, the author of Rise of the Robots believes this idea is unrealistic. For example, providing a basic income for all residents of New York City takes more people than the current population of the planet.
And it is definitely unrealistic to think that everyone in the world would agree to financially support strangers. A financial pyramid scheme is also not the best way to make easy money, as usual, only its founder makes real money.
What would you do if you had a basic income of $ 1,000 a month, for example? Would you keep working, traveling, or would you choose to do nothing? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
Preview photo credit depositphotos, depositphotos
