The Finnish basic income experiment, which ran from January 2017 to December 2018 and involved cash payments to 2,000 random unemployed people, concluded that the pilot significantly improved the well-being and mental health of participants, and had a mild positive impact on employment. Key Findings Substantial Well-Being Gains: Recipients reported feeling significantly happier, less stressed, and more secure about their future. The final evaluation revealed notable boosts in cognitive focus, memory, and overall life satisfaction. Increased Social Trust: A major societal outcome noted by researchers from the University of Helsinki was that basic income significantly deepened recipients' trust in other people, political systems, and public institutions. Neutral to Mild Employment Impact: Critics initially worried UBI would disincentivise work, while proponents thought it would encourage job-seeking by removing the "welfare trap". In reality, the economic impact was modest. Recipients worked slightly more days on average than the control group during the second year (specifically benefiting families with children).