Basic Income Advocacy.pdf

The Hertie School of Governance thesis explores whether proponents of basic income should advocate for basic income social experiments in Germany. The thesis argues that basic income social experiments (BISE) are a useful tool for generating knowledge on the consequences of a radically new program like basic income. Despite methodological sophistication, social sciences cannot eliminate uncertainty regarding the consequences of basic income, including fiscal feasibility. BISE can help overcome the discursive impasse resulting from the lack of knowledge and shift the burden of proof back to the defenders of the status quo.

The German welfare state has been criticized for its failure to address poverty and the working poor, and basic income proposals have gained attention as a potential solution. Proponents argue that basic income schemes increase real freedom by paying everyone an unconditional income without work requirements or means tests. However, questions of feasibility have received little attention, resulting in large uncertainties about the fiscal feasibility of basic income.

The thesis identifies two contradictory observations: the fundamental lack of knowledge about the effects of basic income schemes and the tendency of participants in the debate to make unfounded claims about the desirability and feasibility of basic income. The author argues that BISE can help address these issues by providing evidence on the consequences of basic income and shifting the debate from theoretical desirability to empirical feasibility.

The thesis concludes that proponents of basic income should advocate for basic income social experiments in Germany, as they can help generate knowledge, overcome the discursive impasse, and shift the burden of proof. The author also finds that ethical objections to BISE are insubstantial and that BISE are feasible in the German context. Overall, the thesis argues that BISE are a necessary step towards making informed decisions about the implementation of basic income schemes in Germany.