Why Alaska’s Experience Shows Promise for Universal Basic Income

Trials are underway within the U.S. and elsewhere to understand the effects of cash transfer programs like universal basic income to provide people with basic sustenance — where the government sends out a regular stipend to everyone regardless of income or employment status. Interest is rising following concerns that technological innovations would lead to massive unemployment as more work is automated.

Since 2017, Finland has been experimenting with a partial basic income program, a variant of universal basic income, given only to the unemployed. Alaska has had a royalty payment program since 1982 in which every resident, including children, gets $1,000 to $2,000 a year. (The U.S. state does not call it a universal basic income but it’s a similar cash transfer program.)

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