Bedingungsloses vs. haushaltstyp- und wohnortabhängiges Grundeinkommen: Simulation verschiedener Reformszenarien für Deutschland
The unconditional basic income (UBI) is one of the best-known proposals for a reform of the transfer system. Proponents hope that it will simplify the welfare state. In this article, Frank Englmann, Robin Jessen, Benjamin Bätz, Susanne Becker, Frank Calisse, Niklas Isaak and Jonathan Thiele show that only a selection of existing social benefits could be eliminated if a basic income were introduced. The authors use microsimulation to examine the distributional effects of three reform scenarios involving the introduction of a basic income and the simultaneous abolition of selected social benefits. The counter-financing is provided in each case by variants of an income tax increase. If expected labor supply reactions are included in the calculation, the UBI reforms examined cannot be financed - but better targeted alternative scenarios that take into account the respective household context and rental costs can. Compared to the status quo, there is a strong downward redistribution in all scenarios.