Amongst the current economic upheaval caused by the pandemic, the idea of a universal basic income has become a hot topic. But, some fear that giving people money would encourage them to loaf about instead of becoming productive members of society.
The former mayor of Stockton in California put this to the test. Michael Tubbs created the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), which gave 125 residents $500 each month. He found that the program reduced unemployment.