What would happen if we randomly gave $1,000 to poor families? Now we know.

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 03:19:32 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/12/03/what-would-happen-if-we-randomly-gave-poor-families-now-we-know/>

“Cash transfers benefited the entire local economy, not just direct
recipients. As money made its way through the area, both families who
did and did not receive cash ended up substantially better off. Just as
importantly, they could find little in the way of adverse effects from
the experiment, either in villages that got the cash or in those that
didn’t. Spending on temptation goods — such as cigarettes, alcohol and
gambling — did not increase. People didn’t work less. Rates of domestic
violence didn’t change, nor did more children drop out of school. Local
income inequality levels did not change. And contrary to a common fear,
the program had minimal effect on prices: Inflation increased less than
1 percent over and above Kenya’s overall rate.”

Via Muse.

Share and enjoy,
                *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net                   Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/             Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/                Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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