San Francisco is launching an experiment to give families free money

pulse

January 26, 2017 8:16 PM

Basic income is a wealth-distribution system that involves giving every citizen a fixed amount of money each month.

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A basic income experiment is coming to San Francisco, California.

Announced at a January 23 forum hosted by the city's Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE), a subsection of the Office of the Treasurer, the experiment will reportedly be a pilot program focused on families and children, Hoodline first reported.

Basic income is a wealth-distribution system that involves giving every citizen a fixed amount of money each month to cover basic living expenses.

Advocate argue that by strengthening the social safety net, fewer people will be able to slip into poverty, ultimately creating healthier and happier societies.

Some early evidence in the developing world shows the model really does help people get more education and make crucial repairs to their homes. One question skeptics often pose, however, is to what extent recipients waste the money on vices like drugs and alcohol.

That's where the focus of the San Francisco pilot sets it apart from other experiments in the general population, says Sean Kline, director of the OFE. The pilot only includes families with children.

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