In Stockton, Calif. About one person in every four in that city lives in poverty. And this experiment lasted for two years. So what did we learn? It's kind of like, you know, I didn't realize I needed help until I had the help, you know?
It paid for Everett's phone, utility bills and car insurance. The day we speak, Everett had just gotten back from a visit to a check-cashing place. Money's been tight for her since the two-year trial ended in January. While she wasn't able to pay off debt, she says it kept her from taking on more. And the money did something else. It helped her escape an abusive marriage. And I'm glad that I was still in the program when I left. It helped me move. JAMALI: One finding from the trial was a big improvement in people's emotional health, another, more financial stability.
Former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs helped spearhead the trial. He says the findings poked holes in a common criticism of cash payouts. Five years ago, Anna Popova co-authored a World Bank study analyzing similar experiments around the world and how much money went to so-called temptation goods.
Forty percent of the payouts were withdrawn as cash and couldn't be tracked. But of the spending that could be tracked, most went towards food and monthly bills. Ultimately, any discussion of basic income circles back to cost. It's expensive. USC macroeconomist Diego Daruich says making universal basic income truly universal would mean tax rates go up, potentially, by a lot.
But he acknowledges the real cost is a guessing game. But we realize that there is very little evidence about the consequences if you were to run this at a large scale and in the long run. But she's grateful for the escape it afforded her. Search Query Show Search. Support IPR. Show Search Search Query. Play Live Radio. Next Up:. All Streams. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email. Is that what you're saying?
