Thread by @scottsantens

In 2018, the newly elected @fordnation govt, who told voters both during and after the campaign that the #BasicIncome Pilot begun in 2017 would continue for 3 years as planned, canceled it and refused to gather data.

The following are unofficial results:

assets.nationbuilder.com/bicn/pages/42/…

Of the 424 recipients surveyed, comprising 9.4% of the total experimental population, 44.5% were employed part-time or full-time, which points to a possible increase overall in employment from 35%, with a possible increase in PT work, decrease in FT work, and more volunteering.

In the baseline survey (the only official data gathered as part of the OBIP's launch) about 11% of participants volunteered in their communities. Among the recipients in this survey over 25% volunteered. These unfortunately can't be directly compared, but it seems noteworthy IMO.

Asked how basic income changed their work life, 33% responded with no change, while 20% said they could afford transportation to work, 32% went back to school or retrained, while 9% were able to start or expand their business. Additionally, 6% were more able to afford child care.

Considering how 62% of respondents felt they were stuck in jobs with no opportunities for career advancement, that basically half of those people chose to seek out education or retraining so as to change that shows that there are barriers to better jobs that basic income removes.

Here's some examples of how basic income was improving the ability to work.

"I was able to stay at home with my infant daughter while my fiance went back to school and when she finishes, I am going back to work."

"I was saving for a vehicle so I could pursue self-employment..."

Almost a third of respondents stopped using food banks while three out of four were able to make more healthy food choices thanks to being more able to afford them. (This by the way is a very common result of UBI experiments. People tend to make better choices when they're able.)

Considering how baseline data showed that 48.4% of participants in the basic income pilot were experiencing severe food insecurity before it started, this points to a large nutritional improvement. People were able to attain healthier weights and also better manage disabilities.

In regards to their finances, 46% of respondents were able to pay off debt, while 50% were able to save money. (Note: This is another common results of UBI experiments that savings go up and debts go down.) Over 64% felt more financially stable and less worried about emergencies.

Some examples include the following:

"I was able to get out from under payday loans." (Note: I've written about this effect previously -> medium.com/basic-income/p…)

"I was able to handle financial emergencies that happened." (Note: 40% of the U.S. can't handle a $400 emergency.)

Almost a third of respondents opted to begin post-secondary school or job training, and over 11% used their basic income to start a new business or expand an existing one. Meanwhile almost 60% of them improved their housing situation and 40% started to become more physically fit.

Many respondents replied that for the first time in many years, they were able to plan for their futures. (Note: this supports previous evidence) One individual was able to lose about 100 pounds. Another sought CPR training. Multiple people were able to obtain driver's licenses.

Again in support of previous findings, basic income greatly improved mobility. 3 out of 4 respondents were less worried about gas money or other transportation costs & about 1 in 5 upgraded their transportation. As a result half were able to spend more time with friends & family.

About 1 in 3 respondents were able to pay for dental care that they'd been putting off prior to receiving basic income. 45% reported experiencing fewer health problems. 41% were more able to purchase medication and 17% needed less medication. (Note: UBI functions like a vaccine)

As usual, basic income greatly increased social cohesion (I've written about this before: medium.com/basic-income/u…) Considering that at the start of the pilot 81% were suffering moderate to severe stress, that 88% experienced less stress and 73% less depression, this is important.

Asked what else they would say about their experience on basic income, here's a selection of comments:

"What an amazing help…"

"An angel in disguise…"

"Allowed us to make future long term plans…"

"It was exactly what the country needed."

"It gave me a feeling of security"

"Basic income made me want to better myself, and I did… Thank you basic income."

"Basic income changed my life. I also know people whose lives were changed for the better."

"After living below the poverty level for over a decade, it was the best thing to ever happen to me!"

I have to say this one actually brought tears:

"I am grateful to all the advocates…"

I will never stop fighting for you. Never. And I'm not alone in that conviction.

Basic income works. It transforms lives & communities for the better.

A world without UBI is an unjust world.

To end this thread in summary of the best data we're likely going to get from the OBIP because Ford refuses to do an official exit survey, I'd just like to tell @fordnation & @MacLeodLisa to each find a nice cactus and shove them as far up their asses as their heads already are.

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