Fundraising for the project and accompanying documentary film by Rebecca Panian ended on Tuesday with only CHF150,000 ($150,600) collected – well short of the CHF6.1 million required to kick off the experiment in Rheinau near Zurich.
Panian said she had been aware of the difficulties of collecting so much money in a short period of time. “Expectations were high, very high. It was a daring project,” she said on Tuesday.
Around 770 people out of the 1,300 population had signed up to the project launched on October 16. The minimum needed for the experiment was 650 people.
Participants would have received an unconditional basic income of CHF2,500 per month for one year. But those who earned more than that, either through employment or benefit payments, would have had to pay the basic income back.
The Swiss rejected an initiative for a similar unconditional basic income in a national referendum in 2016.
“Many wondered why they should have given money to the people of Rheinau. That means we didn’t manage to get the message across that this experience would have benefited everyone,” Panian commented.
While not enough money was raised, it was “not for nothing”, she added. The people of Rheinau discussed the issue and over half the village volunteered. It also generated interest abroad in Germany and Portugal, she said.
Panian’s team, Rheinau residents and the local authorities will now carry out an evaluation to decide the future of the project.
More
More
Money for nothing?
This content was published on
Residents of Rheinau seem unsure what they would be letting themselves in for.
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
Basel prepares 700 volunteers for the Eurovision Song Contest
This content was published on
Around 320 people took part in one of the two official information events for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Basel on Friday.
More Swiss soldiers involved in accidents during training in Austria
This content was published on
The Swiss army has reported various accidents involving Swiss soldiers during the exercise “TRIAS 25” in Austria. Some have led to hospitalisations.
Swiss court rules vegan meat substitutes can’t use animal names
This content was published on
Vegan meat substitutes may not bear animal names such as “planted.chicken” according to a ruling by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.
Swiss cantons spared duty to create new traveller transit sites
This content was published on
Swiss cantons will no longer be formally obliged by the government to create new transit sites for the travelling community.
Swiss politicians bemoan limited access to EU treaty details
This content was published on
Protests that only a few Swiss parliamentarians will be able to read the contents of a new agreement negotiated with the EU.
This content was published on
For the first time, most Swiss residents favour withdrawing their pension pot as a lump-sum over regular annuity payments.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Hundreds of Swiss sign up for unconditional income
This content was published on
With more than enough willing participants, the experiment with the unconditional basic income is a step closer to reality.
This content was published on
Rheinau, a Swiss municipality in the outskirts of Zurich has decided to guarantee basic income to residents on a trial basis.
Basic income plan clearly rejected by Swiss voters
This content was published on
Official final results show the proposal winning 23.1% of the vote and all the country’s 26 cantons coming out against. Only one commune in western Switzerland and a few districts in the cities of Geneva and Zurich came out in favour. “The campaigners failed to present a convincing funding scheme for their proposal. But they…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.