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  • Can free cash really solve Philly's poverty problem?

    Universal Basic Income programs around the country have demonstrated the effectiveness of distributing cash to people who are economically struggling. Philadelphia distributed $1.7 million through the Worker Relief Fund in the summer of 2020 when thousands of residents were excluded from federal and state pandemic financial aid and plans are also in motion to provide cash payments to 300 families in need of housing assistance.

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  • Direct Cash Payments Inject More Trust into Philanthropy

    Cash payments are an effective way to address the economic hardships associated with the pandemic. Philanthropic efforts to distribute aid in the form of cash are relying on local organizations that have the community presence to identify recipients and distribute the money. The popularity of cash aid programs and their promising results have pushed back against the narrative of misuse of money by recipients.

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  • Can a ‘Guaranteed Income' for Black Entrepreneurs Narrow the Wealth Gap?

    A program in Oakland, California, is helping Black women-owned companies survive the economic downturn since the onset of the pandemic. Known as Runway, the financial innovation firm provides $1,000 a month without any conditions. The monthly income allows historically-marginalized entrepreneurs to focus on how to pivot in order to survive the pandemic. The decision to provide cash payments to this particular demographic was based on research that highlights the lack of financial security nets in the Black community that prevent business owners from relying on their friends and family in times of need.

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  • 2021 Will Be the Year of Guaranteed Income Experiments

    Universal Basic Income is gaining popularity across the United States, where 11 cities in 2021 are either extending or piloting new programs that provide cash payments without any conditions on how to spend the money. The success of UBI has been detailed in several other cities, most notably in Stockton, California, under Mayor Michael Tubbs, who has been voted out but has since launched the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. The coalition of 30 mayors will run experiments by choosing families and individuals facing economic hardship; the ultimate goal being a federal UBI program.

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  • The Radical Idea of Making Sure Everybody Has Enough Money to Live On

    The results of a universal basic income (UBI) program in Kenya show the positive ripple effect of giving everyone money on a consistent basis over the course of several years. Recipients have been able to lift themselves out of poverty, start businesses, and invest in communal projects such as plumbing and better housing. Improved mental and physical health was also a major outcome of the initiative.

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  • Everywhere basic income has been tried, in one map

    Countries spanning several continents have experimented with basic income in often successful attempts to curb poverty, transition into the era of automation, reduce crime, and boost health and happiness outcomes. The idea has received pushback from political parties that are concerned with the costs of the policy as well as the possible disincentivization of work. Countries on the map have experimented with the policy in varying degrees.

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  • South Korea's Universal Basic Income Experiment to Boost the Economy

    13 million South Koreans were given money to spend in their local markets in order to stimulate the economy after the economic slowdown. The money is distributed through a debit card and significantly boosted sales for small businesses. Politicians propose using the concept to offset job losses from automation by levying taxes on the manufacturing industry in the form of a "robot tax."

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  • A B.C. research project gave homeless people $7,500 each — the results were 'beautifully surprising'

    A pilot project in Canada is challenging stereotypes by giving cash to people experiencing homelessness. The results of The New Leaf project showed that the money was managed well by recipients and led to fewer days of homelessness and food insecurity. Additionally, the cash payments made it easier and faster to find stable housing. Participants also managed to save $1,000 of their $7,500 grants. The findings challenge the common assumptions held about giving cash to "people living on the margins."

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  • The Mississippi Program That's Showing How Effective Direct Cash Transfers Can Be

    Families experiencing poverty have been given $1,000 each month in an effort to address the racial wealth gap through the Magnolia Mother's Trust program. The cash payments yield an increase of recipients who were able to earn their GEDs, cook fresh meals for their families, and meet all their basic needs. The payments began prior to the onset of the pandemic but have proven to be a crucial safety net.

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  • This is what one of the world's largest experiments in basic income looks like

    Mumbuca is a digital currency used in Maricà’s basic income program. Residents, with few eligibility requirements, can qualify for a monthly stipend to purchase goods and services using a smart phone or a card. The currency runs on the digital platform E-dinheiro and can only be spent in the city limits. Individuals cannot swap Mumbucas for national currency, but businesses can after a 48-hour waiting period and a 1% fee. Local currencies, which are popular in Brazil, help residents increase personal savings and, with increased stipends during the Covid-19 pandemic, allowed informal workers to stay home.

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