Lifting People From Poverty
February 28, 2024
Providing a guaranteed basic income for people experiencing poverty can improve their immediate and future lives, advocates of the approach argue. Writing in Issues, Jiaying Zhao, Yuen Pau Woo, and Lorne Whitehead see the potential—and extend the discussion. They describe regular cash payments as among a handful of effective policy tools for fighting persistent poverty. To help policymakers in choosing their best options, the authors call for “a significant governmental investment in research to test various promising combinations of programs to lift the most disadvantaged people out of poverty while maintaining a vibrant and innovative economy.”