In addition to reducing widespread poverty, a Universal Basic Income of $1000 per month to every American adult will cost less to implement than our current inefficient means-tested relief programs. The federal government would provide UBI payments directly into the hands of the American people through free public banking.

Numerous basic income experiments have shown:

• UBI improves mental health by reducing conditions of scarcity, poverty, and financial insecurity – major sources of stress for millions of people.
• UBI increases bargaining power for workers because a guaranteed, unconditional income gives workers leverage to say no to exploitative wages and abusive working conditions.
• UBI improves labor market efficiency, because fewer workers are stuck in jobs that are a bad fit. National productivity improves, because people will be able to seek work that is more rewarding and provides higher job satisfaction.
• UBI encourages people to find work. Many current welfare programs take away benefits when recipients find work or save over a certain threshold amount, leaving them financially worse off. UBI is for all adults, regardless of employment status, and recipients are free to seek additional income.