The Pandemic UBI Pilots
During the peak of the covid-19 pandemic, as many as 20 different U.S. cities launched basic income pilots to bolster incomes during a time when job loss and economic downturns were rampant. The programs delivered as much as $1,000 a month to recipients, typically for as long as a full year. Data about the projects was collected by the Stanford Basic Income Lab, which compiled a report that showed the pilots had helped low to middle-income families meet their essential needs. Retail purchases comprised about 36 percent of the spending. Meanwhile, 31 percent of the proceeds went to food and groceries, while housing and transport received 9 percent. The other spending was distributed between things like healthcare, education, and travel.
