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

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-leaf-project-results-1.5752714

Bridgette Watson

CBC

7 October 2020

Text / Under 800 Words

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."

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

https://www.wsj.com/video/south-koreas-universal-basic-income-experiment-to-boost-the-economy/80B60141-6AF5-4CB3-9F97-4101B5128A4B.html

Crystal Tai

Wall Street Journal

9 October 2020

Video / 5-15 Minutes

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."

Everywhere basic income has been tried, in one map

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/2/19/21112570/universal-basic-income-ubi-map

Sigal Samuel

Vox

20 October 2020

Text / 1500-3000 Words

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.

$1,000 a month, no strings attached

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/01/month-no-strings-attached

Robert Samuels

The Washington Post

1 September 2019

Text / 1500-3000 Words

A pilot program in Jackson, Mississippi called Springboard to Opportunities is providing 20 single, African-American mothers living in public housing with $1000 a month, with no stipulations on how that money should be spent. The experiment so far has allowed mothers to save money, avoid predatory loans, pay off loans, and consider classes and higher education.

Healthier kids? Just hand their families cash.

https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2018/01/10/fighting-health-effects-of-poverty-welfare-000608

Adriana Lleras-Muney

Politico

10 January 2018

Text / 1500-3000 Words

A study of a 1910 cash-based welfare program in the United States reveals the positive lifelong results of giving families cash to reduce poverty and prevent the long-term effects associated with it. Providing cash for families with children once resulted in a better rate of return in the form of better nutrition, higher socio-economic status and longer life expectancy. Currently, the government provides the "deserving poor" with welfare benefits such as health coverage and food aid but recipients must meet the strict requirements for eligibility.

Finnish basic income pilot improved wellbeing, study finds

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/07/finnish-basic-income-pilot-improved-wellbeing-study-finds-coronavirus

Jon Henley

The Guardian

7 May 2020

Text / 800-1500 Words

The Finnish government's experiment with basic income revealed the mental and emotional benefits associated with receiving a small monthly income. The 560-euro amount is not enough to live on but provides a financial security net for those who have experienced long-term unemployment. Basic income allowed participants to consider low-paying jobs that would normally cost them their benefits. The notion of basic income has gained traction across Europe, especially during the pandemic and in the face of general job losses due to automation.

Basic income could work—if you do it Canada-style

https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/06/20/141704/basic-income-could-work-if-you-do-it-canada-style

Brian Bergstein

MIT Technology Review

20 June 2018

Text / 1500-3000 Words

In Lindsay, Ontario, the provincial government is funding a pilot for a universal basic income that provides monthly stipends to those who are facing poverty to help boost them to at least 75 percent of the poverty line. Although the longterm benefits and costs are yet to be seen, so far participants have reported that it has acted as "a social equalizer, a recognition that people who make little or no money are often doing things that are socially valuable."

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

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/universal-basic-income-money-to-live-o_n_5fad6e41c5b6cae94043d194

Laura Paddison

The Huffington Post

1 December 2020

Text / Over 3000 Words

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.

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

https://restofworld.org/2020/your-money-is-no-good-in-marica

Meaghan Tobin

Márvio dos Anjos

Rest of World

23 July 2020

Text / 1500-3000 Words

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.

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

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-15/another-new-spin-on-ubi-pay-black-entrepreneurs

Brentin Mock

CityLab

15 January 2021

Text / 800-1500 Words

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.