Giving people money helped less than I thought it would
5 days ago
- #cash-transfers
- #poverty-alleviation
- #social-policy
- Cash transfers in high-income countries do not show sustained improvements in mental health, stress levels, physical health, child development, or employment.
- Studies reveal that recipients of guaranteed income programs work slightly less but do not report higher life satisfaction or lower stress levels.
- Despite receiving thousands of dollars, participants in cash transfer programs are statistically indistinguishable from control groups on key metrics.
- Qualitative interviews show that recipients appreciate the money for comfort and security, but measurable outcomes remain unchanged.
- Researchers find no significant effects of cash transfers on labor supply, psychological well-being, financial security, or food insecurity.
- Media coverage tends to highlight small positive results from pilot programs while downplaying larger, more rigorous studies with null findings.
- Targeted cash programs for specific groups (e.g., pregnant women, domestic violence victims) may still hold promise, unlike broad cash transfers.
- The lack of transformative results suggests that ending chronic poverty requires more than cash—such as education, healthcare, and institutional reforms.