From pilot to policy: a closer look at guaranteed income initiatives in the US
Michael D. Tubbs, mayor of Stockton, California, initiated a daring experiment in February 2019. He randomly selected 125 residents at or below the city's median household income to receive $500 a month for 24 months. Two years later, the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, as the pilot Read More...
Guaranteed income for poor mothers boosts infant brain activity
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that uses data from the Baby’s First Years study, put forth results that offer a strong argument for the implementation of basic or guaranteed income payments for families. The study demonstrates that infants in Read More...
Stimulus checks were critical in dropping hunger rates during pandemic
Back in April, we wrote about how Americans were overwhelmingly using their stimulus checks to cover basic expenses and reduce their personal debt. Now, according to new census data, stimulus checks, in conjunction with expanded access to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, Read More...
LA could become largest US city with a guaranteed income program
After a successful initial trial across the state in Stockton, Los Angeles is set to become the largest US city with a guaranteed income program for poor residents. Mayor Eric Garcetti is seeking approval from the City Council this week to set aside $24 million from next year’s budget to Read More...
Oakland, CA to launch large-scale UBI experiment
After encouraging preliminary results from Stockton's universal basic income (UBI) experiment, another California city is testing out guaranteed income as a strategy for economic empowerment for marginalized groups. The City of Oakland announced this week that it will provide $500 a month to 600 Read More...
Jack Dorsey donates $15 million to fund more guaranteed income pilots
Back in July, we wrote about the founding of a coalition called Mayors for Guaranteed Income, which was started by Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. The group’s purpose is to start piloting guaranteed income programs in cities as a way to support people who are struggling during the economic crisis Read More...
Compton to launch America’s biggest guaranteed income program
In 2019, the city of Stockton, California, became the first city in America to launch an experimental guaranteed income program that would provide 125 residents with monthly payments of $500 over the course of 18 months, with no strings attached. From the first results of Stockton’s basic income Read More...
Pittsburgh launches ‘guaranteed income’ program with Jack Dorsey donation
Last week, we wrote about “guaranteed income” and the support it's getting from mayors across America, who formed a network called Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. That group was launched by Stockton, Calif. Mayor Michael Tubbs, who launched his own guaranteed income program in 2018. But Read More...
Mayors want guaranteed income programs to help us recover from Covid-19
In early 2019, we published a story about Stockton mayor Michael Tubbs, who implemented a guaranteed income program in his city to help residents meet their basic needs. We have been closely following the program ever since, with the preliminary results from October showing that the 125 recipients Read More...