© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

In the Face of a Pandemic, Universal Basic Income Is Having a Moment

Ways To Subscribe
The Shakeout Podcast
Roberto Martinez

The sheer scale of the economic damage of the pandemic has led some to call for equally large-scale reforms. For instance, Universal Basic Income. Paul calls in San Antonio Express News financial columnist Michael Taylor to break down the pros and cons of Universal Basic Income.

Small-scale studies show that providing cash directly to people impacted by disasters is efficient and effective. But critics of Alaska's long-running Permanent Fund Dividend, America's largest experiment in UBI, will attest to the unforeseen political challenge of balancing a state's budget around an annual cash giveaway. The permanent fund is the closest thing to UBI America has tried, and its been going on for nearly 40 years.

Subscribe to The Shakeout on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Paul Flahive can be reached at Paul@tpr.org