Germany taz
Study on basic security: Black-red reduces incentives to work
People with poorly paid jobs are better off than without a job - but only with additional social benefits. And not for long either. more...
Deutsch (original) ·Auto-translated to English
Anyone who works full-time at the minimum wage has more money than someone who lives on basic income without work: That is the message in a nutshell of a new study by the Hans Böckler Foundation. The finding is not new. It is still right that the union-affiliated researchers are spreading it again. In doing so, they provide a counterpoint to the misleading claim with which conservatives justified new harassment in the former citizens' money: working is no longer worth it.
To express the study's message more precisely, you need four more words: Anyone who works full-time at the minimum wage, together with additional social benefits, has more money than someone who lives on basic income without work. In many cases, income is only higher because of additional benefits such as housing benefit or child allowance.
It's worth taking a look at the complete findings. Three conclusions emerge from it. First: The government is acting inconsistently. The coalition is planning to cut housing benefit and advance maintenance payments - two of the benefits that have so far ensured that people with poorly paid jobs are better off than without a job. Black-red reduces incentives to work instead of increasing them.
The taz is an independent, left-wing and opinionated daily newspaper. We have been arguing in our comments, essays and debate texts since the taz was founded in 1979. We often cannot and do not want to agree on an opinion. That's why you'll find some completely opposing positions here - all part of the very broad left-wing spectrum of opinions.
Second: The fact that full-time employees with a minimum wage always have a higher income is initially a theoretical finding. In practice, supplementary benefits such as housing benefit are only used by some of those entitled. For those who don't know about their rights, work isn't necessarily worth it. It is therefore right that the government wants to make the system simpler and more understandable with a welfare state reform.
If more people take advantage of the benefits, government spending also increases. Thirdly, it would be important to increase the minimum wage more than planned. In this way, work would more often be worthwhile even without money from the state. Or to put it another way: without public subsidies for lousy salaries.