A fascinating and fortunate longitudinal study is able to draw conclusions from these families receiving what amounts to basic income. TL;DR: Everyone benefitted.
There’s also the question of stress, which the extra money helps relieve—even if only a little. While the added income wasn’t enough to allow parents to quit their jobs, it’s a base level that helped with rent and food and other basic expenses. That, Akee said, is powerful enough itself.
“We know that the thing poor couples fight about the most is money,” he said. “Off the bat, this means a more harmonious family environment.”