Help make history: Create the largest basic income pilot yet

Help make history: Create the largest basic income pilot yet

by | Jun 25, 2016 | Opinion

Dear friends,

The basic income movement is picking up momentum at an enormous rate, but even with past and present trials, many are still looking for further evidence of what would happen if a guaranteed income were provided over the long-term.

So we’re planning to run what will likely be the largest long-term pilot of a basic income ever, and we have got some of the world’s leading economists on board to perform a rigorous evaluation.

You can learn more and join the pilot here.

For years, GiveDirectly has been providing short-term cash transfers to the extreme poor and seeing positive results — people do not stop working or drink it away, they invest in bettering their lives. If this basic income pilot shows similarly positive results, it could open the door to governments around the world beginning to adopt policies like basic income.

But we need to move fast — the debate over basic income is happening now and people are shooting down the idea based on speculation. If we are going to provide evidence in time to effect this debate, we need to launch the pilot this year. We will guarantee thousands of individuals living in extreme poverty in East Africa a basic income for over ten years, but we will have results on impact — do people invest more, seek more education, become more creative? — within a year or two.  

But to launch this year all of us need to chip in a small amount — we can make it happen for less than the price of a cup of coffee per day:

Learn more about our project and, for just $1 per day, support the basic income of one person in poverty.

At best, we will break through the impasse of the basic income debate with evidence that shapes our economic futures; and at worst, we will provide life-changing aid to some of the poorest people on the planet.  

We are teaming up with leading researcher Abhijit Banerjee from MIT and have calculated that we can run and study this pilot for $30 million, and we are willing to match the first $10 million donated. If just 5,000 people commit $1/day by this summer, we can make it happen.

Join us: for just $1 per day, support the basic income of one person in poverty.

This is the moment to launch this potentially historic pilot.  Be a part and join now.

Sincerely,

Ian Bassin

At the home of Caroline Awino Odhiambo in Koga village on 22 October 2014. With the cash transfer from Give Directly, Caroline bought a cow, a sewing machine, put metal sheets on her roof, and paid school fees for two children in primary school. Caroline and her family in front of their house

At the home of Caroline Awino Odhiambo in Koga village on 22 October 2014. With the cash transfer from Give Directly, Caroline bought a cow, a sewing machine, put metal sheets on her roof, and paid school fees for two children in primary school. Caroline and her family in front of their house

At the home of Beatrice Achieng in Nduru Upper village. She used the cash transfer from Give Directly to dig a 30-foot borehole that now supplies her family with fresh water. She also build the foundation for a new house on her compound. Beatrice fetches water at the borehole

At the home of Beatrice Achieng in Nduru Upper village. She used the cash transfer from Give Directly to dig a 30-foot borehole that now supplies her family with fresh water. She also build the foundation for a new house on her compound. Beatrice fetches water at the borehole.

At the home of recipient Rispa Atieno Okoyo in Koga village on 22 October 2014. Rispa used the cash to build this goat pen, she bought 2 cows, and planted maize and beans. Rispa with her children in front of their house.

At the home of recipient Rispa Atieno Okoyo in Koga village on 22 October 2014. Rispa used the cash to build this goat pen, she bought 2 cows, and planted maize and beans. Rispa with her children in front of their house.

At the home of recipient Gabriel Otieno Awoche in Koga village on 22 October 2014. Gabriel built a house and chicken coop with the cash. He also bought woodworking tools for his furniture workshop. Gabriel with his wife Lucy Adhiambo and their daughter Charlotte, 3. They also have another daughter, Mariam, age 1 1/2.

At the home of recipient Gabriel Otieno Awoche in Koga village on 22 October 2014. Gabriel built a house and chicken coop with the cash. He also bought woodworking tools for his furniture workshop. Gabriel with his wife Lucy Adhiambo and their daughter Charlotte, 3. They also have another daughter, Mariam, age 1 1/2.

Andrew Flowers, “What would happen if we just gave people money?”

Andrew Flowers, “What would happen if we just gave people money?”

by | Apr 27, 2016 | News

bills-496229_1280In the last two years an “avalanche” of support has descended upon the basic income, according to a recent article by Five Thirty Eight. The article cites either planned experiments or growing support for the idea in Finland, the Netherlands, Canada, France and even the United States.

Basic Income Earth Network’s own Guy Standing is quoted as calling the basic income an “essential” policy, especially in a world of “chronic economic insecurity,” which has propelled “extreme” politicians in both Europe and the United States.

One essential point is that the effects of the basic income are not yet fully understood. However, the Give Directly organization plans to change that with a test of the basic income in Kenya, providing 6,000 individuals with a guaranteed income for up to 15 years.

Over the years, the basic income won support from across the political spectrum, even winning Richard Nixon’s endorsement in the 60s. Currently, the United States is left with a complicated bureaucratic system of dolling out social assistance, creating welfare traps as people fear losing part of their benefits with an increase in income.

A basic income has even won over libertarians at the prospect of increased efficiency and ending the paternalism of the current system.

Negative income tax experiments in the U.S. found that there were only modest negative effects on work hours, and people used that time to go to school, for example. In Canada, data from a minimum income study in the 1970s showed those that received the minimum income were healthier both physically and mentally. Boys were more likely to go to school and young girls were less likely to give birth prior to age 25. There was also no substantial effect on working hours.

Andrew Flowers. “What would happen if we just gave people money?”. Five Thirty Eight.