Philly wants to try ‘basic income’

The idea of giving citizens a monthly basic income has come up on the presidential campaign trail. Now, Philly wants to try it as a way to lift some residents out of poverty.

Listen 14:46
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney delivers the 2020 budget address in council chambers. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney delivers the 2020 budget address in council chambers. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Listen to The Why wherever you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | TuneIn


The idea of a “universal basic income” or giving people monthly cash payments gained traction on the 2020 campaign trail. Now, Philadelphia wants to try it as a way to lift some low-income renters out of poverty. Could it work? Here’s a look at what Philly leaders are proposing and how a basic income experiment is playing out in Stockton, California.

Guests: Jake Blumgart, WHYY’s PlanPhilly and Amy Castro Baker, University of Pennsylvania professor

 

WHYY is one of over 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push towards economic justice. Follow us at @BrokeInPhilly.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal