Unemployed people happier under income scheme - but no more likely to get job, ...

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Unemployed people were happier under a basic income scheme but no more or less likely to get a job, a Finnish trial has revealed.

The research uncovered that 2,000 participants paid 560 euros (£490) in tax-free income a month were happier and less stressed than those who received the basic state benefits.

The two year trial carried out by Helsinki-based institute Kela found that despite the feelings of well-being the test group were no more or less likely to find employment than the control group.

Compared to those paid usual state unemployment benefits, those paid the monthly sum had less money worries and less health problems. 

In addition they felt brighter about their future and their ability to influence societal problems. 

Researchers studied whether the no-strings-attached income could better incentivise jobless people to find work than traditional unemployment benefits, which may be docked as soon as the recipient starts earning money.

Although it was the widest such study to be conducted in recent years in Europe, the Finnish trial was limited to participants who were already

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