Sam Altman funded the largest study on basic income. We now know that the results challenge the main argument against

Last July, the project, which had remained secret for eight years, was revealed. OpenResearch conducted the largest experiment on universal basic income to date, a project that was funded by Sam Altman and who then presented the first results obtained. Now, almost six months later, a little more is known about the findings, and they come to counter the main argument of opponents of the measure.

Inside story. OpenResearch sought 3,000 participants living in Texas and Illinois, enclaves with varying populations and incomes under $28,000. A third of these participants received $1,000 per month with no strings attached for three years, while the rest of the control group received $50 per month.

A total of $45 million was thus delivered. Of these, 14 came directly from the pocket of Altman, who was personally responsible for raising another 60 million to complete the payout and fund the study’s authors under the direction of researcher Elizabeth Rhodes, director of research at OpenResearch.

Preliminary results. OpenResearch data showed that in July, those receiving $1,000 monthly payments increased their monthly spending by an average of $310 per month, although they used the increase to buy food, pay rent or pay for transportation. People in this group offered more support to those in need than the rest of the study participants.

While they found “no direct evidence of improved access to health care or improvements in physical and mental health,” they did see “significant reductions in stress, mental distress, and food insecurity during the first year, but these effects disappeared within the first year.” . the second and third years of the program.” The researchers note that “money alone cannot solve problems such as chronic disease, lack of child care, or high housing costs.”

Extra ball. New research results were released this month. Most interestingly, the work showed that recipients valued work more after receiving regular monthly payments with no strings attached, challenging a long-standing and perhaps overheard argument against such programs.

In the new paper, the researchers examined the impact of the payments on recipients’ political views and participation, as well as their work attitudes. They found no change in their political views, including their views on the broader monetary program. According to David Brookman, co-author of the study: “This is stunning and highlights the persistence of people’s political views: many people who used to moderately support such programs still support them to some extent; people who were against it are still against it. “

The opposite of laziness. According to OpenResearch director Elizabeth Rhodes, study participants demonstrated a “deeper understanding of the intrinsic value of work.” And not only that. The researchers saw a strong belief among participants that work should be required to receive government support through programs such as Medicaid or a hypothetical future cash flow program.

While the study showed a slight increase in unemployment among beneficiaries, Rhodes says overall attitudes toward work remained the same. “What’s interesting is that it’s not a change in the value of work,” he explained to Business Insider. “If anything, they value work more. And this is reflected. People are more likely to look for work. And they’re more likely to apply for jobs.”

Results of future programs. Bruckman explained that the findings from the study could provide insight into how other experiments with basic income programs could be successful. In this regard, he stressed that visibility and transparency must be key if basic income is to become government policy, “as government often spends money in ways that people do not realize are government spending.”

Problems of perspective supply. There is no doubt that the Altman-funded research provides valuable lessons for the design and implementation of similar programs in the future. While the immediate benefits of a basic income seem more or less clear, its long-term sustainability and effectiveness depend on the administration’s structural additions such as social services and/or access to affordable housing, which are key issues that make up the current agenda. all over the planet.

Moreover, public perception and clear communication of the red lines of each program will be key to overcoming any political and social barriers associated with its implementation. One thing seems more or less clear from the results of the three-year income experiment: while it did not confirm the fears of critics or the most optimistic expectations of advocates, it did show that a basic income can provide economic stability without radically changing attitudes toward the economy. . policies or work ethic of the beneficiaries. And this is a big step.

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