Cost-Benefit Analysis of Basic Income for the Arts Pilot in Ireland Finds Positive Returns (assets.gov.ie)

• BIA pilot provided €325/week to 2,000 Irish artists for three years; cost-benefit ratio of 1.39:1.
• Recipients increased artistic output, spent more time on creative work, and reported higher wellbeing.
• Net fiscal cost was 37% lower due to tax returns and reduced welfare payments.
• National rollout could lower art prices by 9-25% but increase output by 10%.

"A cost-benefit analysis of the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot in Ireland, which provided 2,000 artists with €325 per week from 2022 to 2025, found that every €1 of public investment generated €1.39 in societal value. Benefits included increased artistic output, higher psychological wellbeing, and reduced welfare dependency. The net fiscal cost was offset by 37% through tax revenues and social protection savings. The report suggests a national rollout could lower art prices by 9-25% but increase total artistic output by about 10%."