Get the latest tech news

Giving people money helped less than I thought it would

Ending the war on poverty will take more than cash transfers

The gold standard for a guaranteed income experiment goes something like this: Researchers recruit a large population — thousands of people, often across multiple cities — and split them into experimental and control groups. " All payment groups showed significant improvements in housing outcomes, including a remarkable increase in home rent and ownership, and decrease in nights spent unsheltered.” Among the many studies still underway, there are much more specific and targeted cash programs — say, aimed at pregnant women, people just leaving prison or those recovering from a major negative life shock — that look promising.

Get the Android app