The Thailandidea of a universal basic income has found growing support in Silicon Valley as robots threaten to radically change the nature of work.
Ebay founder Pierre Omidyar is the latest tech bigwig to get behind the concept. His philanthropic investment firm, the Omidyar Network, announced Wednesday that it will give nearly half a million dollars to a group testing the policy in Kenya.
SEE ALSO: Could 2017 be the year people take universal basic income seriously?Universal basic income is the notion that a government should guarantee every citizen a yearly sum of money, no strings attached. The thinking is that such a program would relieve economic stress as automation technology severely reduces the demand for labor.
Theories along these lines have existed for centuries, but their proponents have never had much luck convincing governments to give them a shot. Thus, the only data on real-world effects come from a few scattered experiments throughout the years.
GiveDirectly is looking to add to that knowledge with one of the biggest trials of a basic income system in history.
The group recently launched a 12-year pilot program in which it plans to give 6,000 Kenyans regular stipends for the entire duration. Around 20,000 more will receive at least some form of cash transfer.
The Omidyar Network is hoping the study will help advance the debate around basic income from broad theoretical terms to more practical considerations.
"While the discussion has generated a lot of heat, it hasn’t produced very much light," wrote the Omidyar Network's Mike Kubzansky and Tracy Williams in a blog post announcing the pledge. "There is very little research and empirical evidence on how and when UBI could best be used."
Omidyar isn't the only tech mogul backing efforts to take the theory from paper to practice.
Startup incubator Y-Combinator is in the midst of one such study in the Bay Area, and its president, Sam Altman, and Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes have kicked $10 million towards another research project.
A number of other tests have also cropped up in recent months as universal basic income finds more mainstream acceptance.
Topics Universal Basic Income
Best Garmin deal: Save over $30 on Forerunner 55
Police requests for Ring videos have to be made in public now
Star Wars Holiday Gift Guide: Your shopping mission starts here
Apple announces iCloud+ privacy features at WWDC
Elon Musk says SpaceX will launch the Falcon Heavy 'in a week or so'
Relax, everyone. These pictures prove royals have taken selfies before.
Police requests for Ring videos have to be made in public now
The U.S. government finally decides to get serious about ransomware
NYT Strands hints, answers for May 5
Marvel's 'Loki' is a cheeky, confident time
Draper vs. Arnaldi 2025 livestream: Watch Madrid Open for free
The world's biggest Starbucks outlet is also AR
Facebook's Bulletin newsletter service may launch in June
Brow crowns have surfaced to make you look and feel like a fashion queen
Amazon Big Spring Sale 2025: Best air purifier deals from Dyson, Shark, LG, and more
James Comey masterfully trolls Trump with a beautiful sunrise photo
TikTok's updated privacy policy may let it collect your biometric data
Early reactions to 'Loki' on Disney+ say it's the best Marvel show yet
Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum: $120 off at Amazon
Obama thinks we should elect more women because men are having 'some problems these days'
A Reckoning is Different Than a TellBring Back Cortázar by Alejandro ZambraBring Back Cortázar by Alejandro ZambraHow to protect your pets from wildfire smokeThe Missing Images of Chinese Immigrants by MayCan Blackpink's Jennie save 'The Idol' from itself?What is a 'canon event' TikTok trend from 'SpiderBest Cyber Monday Peacock deal: Nov. 27 is the last day to get a year of Peacock Premium for $2015+ Cyber Monday 2023 Chromebook deals at Best BuyLionel Trilling’s Hottest Takes by Lionel TrillingCyber Monday Meta Quest deals: Save up to $100Bad Genre: Annie Ernaux, Autofiction, and Finding a Voice by Lauren ElkinFighting with Czesław Miłosz by Anthony MadridCharli D'Amelio talks Tamagotchis and TikTok trendsCyber Monday Nintendo Switch deals 2023: The 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' bundle is backHow to protect your pets from wildfire smokeRedux: You Only Vote Once in a While by The Paris ReviewBehind the Author’s Photo by Beowulf SheehanWhat is a 'canon event' TikTok trend from 'SpiderRedux: Two Hundred Perfect Words Every Day by The Paris Review Wordle today: The answer and hints for January 16 Wordle today: The answer and hints for January 17 Redux: Merely a Mask by The Paris Review ChatGPT is poised to have a video feature Thunder Moon by Nina MacLaughlin The Review’s Review: Social Media in Reverse by The Paris Review The Momentum of Living: An Interview with Clare Sestanovich by Elinor Hitt In the Gaps: An Interview with Keith Ridgway by Christopher Notarnicola Remember Me and You by Lizzy Stewart NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 16 Redux: The Runner Trying to Disappear by The Paris Review Does Technology Have a Soul? by Meghan O’Gieblyn Emmys 2024: Kieran Culkin reacts perfectly to Pedro Pascal's speech burn Staff Picks: Bowling, Borges, and Bad People by The Paris Review A Literature on the Brink of Dawn by Richard Zenith Freedom from Sugarcane Hell: An Interview with Vinod Busjeet by Parul Kapur Hinzen Fast by Nichole Perkins Get up to 38% off tax software at Amazon: Save on H&R block, TurboTax, and more Staff Picks: Cornets, Collections, and Corn Tempura by The Paris Review Motherhood at the End of the World by Julietta Singh