When the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) gave 125 people $500 a month with no strings attached, researchers found that recipients spent money the same way everyone else does: On food, gas, childcare and bills. The experiment, led by then-Mayor Michael Tubbs, drew criticism from people saying the money would disincentivize work, and that recipients would spend it on alcohol or drugs. Researchers found the opposite: The extra cash reportedly empowered people to get full-time and better paying jobs.

San Francisco has launched several guaranteed income pilot programs of its own. In this episode of Fixing Our City, Tubbs and a guaranteed income recipient describe how the payments can help people reach financial stability. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

Fixing Our City is part of the San Francisco Chronicle's SFNext Project.

Got a tip, question, comment? Email us at [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices