Every U.S. City Testing Free Money Programs

Abt has a growing body of work in the guaranteed income (GI) space, including evaluating programs in eight cities. Mashable cited our project in Birmingham, Alabama, in an article providing an overview of GI and the cities that are investigating its uses. Community leaders across the U.S. cite GI as a potential solution to income inequality and a promising pathway out of poverty. Rather than providing services or goods, GI is a cash payment that’s made directly to individuals, with no strings attached. The rationale, supported by evidence thus far, is that Gi participants are in the best position to understand what supports are most needed, and  can make the best use of the benefit.