Empirical Research on an Unconditional Basic Income in Europe

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

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2. Unconditional Basic Income and Welfare State Reform in Representative Democracies

   • Lei Delsen

   Pages 1-27

3. Individual Preferences for the Unconditional Basic Income in the European Union

   • Lei Delsen, Rutger Schilpzand

   Pages 29-60

4. Is a Basic Income Feasible in Europe?

   • Genevieve Shanahan, Mark Smith, Priya Srinivasan

   Pages 61-80

5. Exploring Benefits and Costs: Challenges of Implementing Citizen’s Basic Income in Scotland

   • Michael Wlliam Danson

   Pages 81-108

6. Job Search, Employment Capabilities and Well-being of People on Welfare in the Dutch ‘Participation Income’ Experiments

   • Ruud Muffels, Erwin Gielens

   Pages 109-138

7. The Who and the Why? Selection Bias in an Unconditional Basic Income Inspired Social Assistance Experiment

   • János Betkó, Niels Spierings, Maurice Gesthuizen, Peer Scheepers

   Pages 139-170

8. Experimental Economics: A Test-Bed for the Unconditional Basic Income?

   • Sascha Füllbrunn, Lei Delsen, Jana Vyrastekova

   Pages 171-199

9. Experimental and Game Theoretical Analyses of the Unconditional Basic Income

   • Toshiji Kawagoe

   Pages 201-220

10. Back Matter

    Pages 221-233

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The unconditional basic income (UBI) has attracted renewed attention in academia, as well as in public discussions in recent years, and much has been written on the possible consequences of a UBI. However, this is the first book focusing on the UBI in Europe that offers empirical research findings. It includes a survey on preferences for a UBI in the EU; an assessment of the political feasibility of a UBI in the EU; field studies in the Netherlands and Scotland; and the findings of laboratory experiments. Presenting contributions from Dutch and international researchers, this book provides scientific answers to the question of whether a UBI is desirable and feasible in Europe.

• Unconditional basic income
• Welfare state reform
• Welfare economics
• Social policy
• Preferences
• Laboratory experiments
• Field experiments
• Europe

“The analysis is very detailed and robust, providing accessible data for anyone wanting to discover the feasibility of a basic income in Europe. The book is particularly useful for those wanting to understand which European nations, and social groups within those countries, are keen on or attracted to the idea of a basic income. The book is also very rich in terms of method … . This is a great text with sublime detail on basic income studies across Europe.” (Brian McDonough, Basic Income Studies, February 24, 2022)

“Delsen’s Book provides an insightful collection of studies examining unconditional basic income in terms of its desirability and feasibility in a European context. … the book successfully contributes to a better understanding of unconditional basic income and can help informed, evidence-based policymaking. … Hence, I recommend the reading of this book, particularly for newcomers to the field, and suggest complementing it with some additional investigation of the effects of unconditional basic income.” (Cyrille Francisco, European Journal of Social Security, July 19, 2021)

“This book is worth the read and its contents and ideas are fitting well with the current social situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. … It is helpful for any student or academic interested in UBI, as well as political decision-makers who want to get an informed perspective on the potential that basic income holds.” (Mircea Gherghina, British Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol. 58 (4), 2020)

“Even though the book is focused on European countries, the insights provided through empirical research in the chapters make it a must-read for students, proponents or opponents of UBI, as well as policy makers who are seeking theoretical or practical evidence of the impacts of UBI. … this book provides significant insights into the literature andstate of the art in the field of UBI.” (Kruti R. Lehenbauer, Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, Vol. 86, 2020)

• Department of Economics, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

  Lei Delsen

Lei Delsen was an Associate Professor of Socio-Economic Policy at the Department of Economics at Radboud University, Nijmegen. He retired June, 2018. He has published numerous articles in scientific and professional journals and edited several scientific volumes, covering topics such as social security, labor market economics and welfare economics. His current research interests include work-life balance, retirement from work, choices within pension schemes, responsible investment, and the relationship between globalization and the national welfare states.

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