While awareness and support for a basic income have increased in the past year, so too have people’s hopes and concerns surrounding the policy. Today, more Europeans worry that basic income might encourage people to stop working (from 43% in 2016 to 52% in 2017). Europeans also express greater fear that foreigners could come to their country and take advantage of the benefit (39%, up 5 percentage points).
However, over the past year, the potential benefits of basic income received greater gains among respondents’. Up 12 percentage points from last year, 52% of Europeans think basic income could reduce anxiety about financing basic needs. 42% think it could create more equality of opportunity (+11), 32% think it encourages financial independence (+9), and 29% think it would increase appreciation for household work and volunteering (+8).
Despite fears, 37% of Europeans say a basic income wouldn’t affect their work choices. 17% say they would spend more time with family if there was a basic income. 8% say they would work less, 7% would volunteer more, and another 7% say they would gain new skills.
Among the 6 largest European countries, support for basic income is highest in Italy (75%, up 6 percentage points from 2016). Last year, Spain was the biggest supporter at 71%, but has now decreased to 69%. Support for basic income has increased the most in the UK, from 62% to 69%. France is least enthusiastic, with only 60% support, up from 58%.
Below you’ll find a clean and raw data set with Dalia’s basic income survey results from 2016 and a pdf presentation of the 2017 results. You can also access these datasets and more from our Press and Data page.
Gamer_Jack_Gameson on May 3rd, 2017 at 18:14 UTC »
"What do we want?!"
"Basic Income!"
"When do we want it?!"
"As soon as possible or after successful experiments in other countries!"
Mildly_Opinionated on May 3rd, 2017 at 18:05 UTC »
I really don't trust the UK statistic. The tories keep winning elections and they are all for keeping tax as low as possible (perhaps to the detriment of the NHS, schools, prisons and social security) as well as having lowered corporation tax (which would make these policies near impossible). This is incompatible with most socialist principles like this one. (not trying to riff on tory voters, I'm not tory but I respect that they just want to pay less tax.)
This really makes me distrust the other statistics too since the UK stat doesn't line up with what you'd expect from our current political climate. Can anyone explain the discrepancy?
whateverbuddy on May 3rd, 2017 at 17:30 UTC »
31% of people want free money as soon as possible. I'm surprised it isn't higher.