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…

  • splonglo@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    There’s been so many studies on UBI and they all show that it works, but people just don’t like their taxpayer money going to other people. It’s a real common attitude and I can sympathise with it, but it’s small-minded and destructive in the long run. The richest people in the world spend money to get people to think like that so they’re blind to the bigger picture: The world is the richest and most productive it’s ever been - so why is everyone is so damn poor? Do we really have to fight over crumbs?

    • Lyrl@lemm.ee
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      11 months ago

      There are an infinite number of ways to set up UBI, and without ongoing results from studies like this - a 12-year study that just reported in year 2 - no one knows which structure works sustainably.

    • Arelin@lemmy.zip
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      11 months ago

      This is the natural course of capitalism. Accumulation of wealth through private ownership of factories and corporations means concentration of power at the capitalist ruling class, and never-ending rise in inequality.

      It rewards those who are greedy and willing to exploit others.