This dissertation investigates the gendered impact of Basic Income(BI) on empowerment in Finland, utilizing an expanded empowerment index and an intersectional approach. The research challenges contrasting theories surrounding UBI's effects on women's empowerment: some argue that UBI reinforces traditional gender roles, while others suggest it enhances women's autonomy. The study addresses two key questions: how UBI affects a comprehensive empowerment index across genders, and what intersectional factors influence this impact in Finland. Drawing from the 2017-2018 Finnish Basic Income experiment, this study develops an expanded empowerment index that includes various dimensions such as life satisfaction, health, mental well-being, cognitive function, social capital, and meaningful work. The study examines responses from the UBI-treated group (n = 569) and a control group (n = 1,028), employing χ² statistics and regression analyses to evaluate the effects of UBI on empowerment across various intersectional categories, including age, education, household composition, income, and urbanization. Our findings, consistent with previous research (Kangas et al., 2023), indicate that UBI can equally enhance individual empowerment for both men and women. However, our intersectional analysis reveals nuanced variations in empowerment outcomes based on factors such as age, education and household composition. Notably, a marginally significant three-way interaction between treatment, gender, and household composition suggests that UBI's impact may vary depending on family structure, partially supporting theories regarding UBI's potential to alter traditional gender roles. This research underscores the importance of considering intersectional factors in UBI policy design and evaluation, contributing to the ongoing debate about UBI's role in promoting gender equality and empowerment through nuanced, context-specific approaches.

This dissertation investigates the gendered impact of Basic Income(BI) on empowerment in Finland, utilizing an expanded empowerment index and an intersectional approach. The research challenges contrasting theories surrounding UBI's effects on women's empowerment: some argue that UBI reinforces traditional gender roles, while others suggest it enhances women's autonomy. The study addresses two key questions: how UBI affects a comprehensive empowerment index across genders, and what intersectional factors influence this impact in Finland. Drawing from the 2017-2018 Finnish Basic Income experiment, this study develops an expanded empowerment index that includes various dimensions such as life satisfaction, health, mental well-being, cognitive function, social capital, and meaningful work. The study examines responses from the UBI-treated group (n = 569) and a control group (n = 1,028), employing χ² statistics and regression analyses to evaluate the effects of UBI on empowerment across various intersectional categories, including age, education, household composition, income, and urbanization. Our findings, consistent with previous research (Kangas et al., 2023), indicate that UBI can equally enhance individual empowerment for both men and women. However, our intersectional analysis reveals nuanced variations in empowerment outcomes based on factors such as age, education and household composition. Notably, a marginally significant three-way interaction between treatment, gender, and household composition suggests that UBI's impact may vary depending on family structure, partially supporting theories regarding UBI's potential to alter traditional gender roles. This research underscores the importance of considering intersectional factors in UBI policy design and evaluation, contributing to the ongoing debate about UBI's role in promoting gender equality and empowerment through nuanced, context-specific approaches.