University of Toronto
Eva Vivalt, an assistant professor in the Department of Economics, played a leading role in a research practice partnership (RPP) that spent years exploring the effects of unconditional cash transfers on individuals living in poverty. Picture merging the profiles of a billionaire tech mogul, top academics from elite research institutions, and a diverse group of 3000 Americans struggling below the poverty line. This illustrates the scale and depth of their methodical and meticulous research study.
One thousand people with average annual household incomes of $29,000 living in Illinois and Texas received transfers of $1000 per month for three years. A control group of 2000 people from the same locations and income levels received $50 each per month. Described as the “Sam Altman-backed basic income study,” in the popular press since the study results came out at the end of July, $24 million of the almost $40 million in cash transfers was funded by the Altman-founded OpenAI through OpenResearch. The project was driven by Altman’s often-stated belief that some form of basic income may be necessary as AI replaces people in jobs.
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