It’s an unprecedented – and massive – experiment: Since 2017 the U.S.-based charity GiveDirectly has been providing thousands of villagers in Kenya what’s called a “universal basic income” – a cash grant of about $50, delivered every month, with the commitment to keep the payments coming for 12 years. It is a crucial test of what many consider one of the most cutting-edge ideas for alleviating global poverty. This week a team of independent researchers who have been studying the impact released their first results.
Maybe, we saw a huge recovery with relatively small amounts given to regular people (and ridiculous amounts given to businesses). I can only imagine what the PPP loans would have done for poverty had we just given them to poor people instead of rich people.
This is roughly the equivalent of giving an American ~$42k. I think that amount of money would have a huge impact on people’s well being.
Note: I looked up Kenya’s per capital GDP which is ~$2k USD. Based on on the article stating they received $50 per month, than means the lump sum was 60% of the GDP. 60% of the US’s GDP per capita is ~$42k
$50 per month is $600 per year, or %30 of GDP.
So $21,000 for an American. Still a significant amount.
But they gave them 2 years worth of funds, so you would double the number.