Kenya GiveDirectly UBI Trial

A Kenya GiveDirectly UBI Trial is a private-funded long-term randomized controlled trial that tests unconditional cash transfers in rural Kenya villages through GiveDirectly payment distribution (2016-2028).

• AKA: GiveDirectly Kenya Experiment, Kenya Basic Income Study, GiveDirectly Universal Basic Income Trial, Kenya Long-Term UBI Study.
• Context:
  • It can typically implement GiveDirectly Payment Variations through GiveDirectly experimental arms.
  • It can typically deliver GiveDirectly Mobile Payments through GiveDirectly M-Pesa transfers.
  • It can typically study GiveDirectly Economic Impacts through GiveDirectly consumption tracking.
  • It can typically examine GiveDirectly Labor Effects through GiveDirectly employment monitoring.
  • It can typically assess GiveDirectly Spillover Effects through GiveDirectly general equilibrium analysis.
  • ...
  • It can often demonstrate GiveDirectly Enterprise Creation through GiveDirectly business startups.
  • It can often reveal GiveDirectly Asset Accumulation through GiveDirectly investment behaviors.
  • It can often show GiveDirectly Risk Taking through GiveDirectly occupational shifts.
  • It can often generate GiveDirectly Gender Impacts through GiveDirectly women empowerment.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a GiveDirectly Short-Term Arm to being a GiveDirectly Long-Term Arm, depending on its GiveDirectly payment duration.
  • It can range from being a GiveDirectly Lump-Sum Payment to being a GiveDirectly Monthly Payment, depending on its GiveDirectly transfer structure.
  • It can range from being a GiveDirectly Treatment Village to being a GiveDirectly Control Village, depending on its GiveDirectly randomization status.
  • It can range from being a GiveDirectly Individual Effect to being a GiveDirectly Village Effect, depending on its GiveDirectly analysis level.
  • ...
  • It can integrate with GiveDirectly Research Partners for GiveDirectly academic evaluation.
  • It can connect to GiveDirectly Donor Networks for GiveDirectly funding support.
  • It can interface with GiveDirectly Payment Infrastructure for GiveDirectly cash distribution.
  • It can communicate with GiveDirectly Local Partners for GiveDirectly community engagement.
  • It can synchronize with GiveDirectly Data Systems for GiveDirectly impact measurement.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • GiveDirectly Trial Arms, such as:
    • GiveDirectly Long-Term UBI Arm (12 years of payments), testing GiveDirectly sustained support.
    • GiveDirectly Short-Term UBI Arm (2 years of payments), examining GiveDirectly temporary assistance.
    • GiveDirectly Lump-Sum Arm (one-time payment), comparing GiveDirectly payment timing.
    • GiveDirectly Control Group (no payment), providing GiveDirectly comparison baseline.
  • GiveDirectly Research Findings, such as:
    • GiveDirectly COVID-19 Impact (reduced hunger during pandemic), showing GiveDirectly crisis resilience.
    • GiveDirectly Economic Multiplier (2.6x local GDP impact), demonstrating GiveDirectly spillover benefits.
    • GiveDirectly Enterprise Effect (increased business ownership), revealing GiveDirectly entrepreneurship boost.
    • GiveDirectly Education Impact (improved school enrollment), documenting GiveDirectly human capital investment.
  • GiveDirectly Design Features, such as:
    • GiveDirectly Sample Size (295 villages, 20,000+ recipients), ensuring GiveDirectly statistical power.
    • GiveDirectly Payment Amount ($0.75/day), approximating GiveDirectly poverty line.
    • GiveDirectly Saturation Design (entire villages treated), enabling GiveDirectly general equilibrium study.
    • GiveDirectly Long Duration (12-year commitment), allowing GiveDirectly long-term analysis.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Government UBI Program, which uses public funding rather than private donations.
  • Conditional Cash Transfer, which requires behavioral compliance rather than unconditional payments.
  • Microfinance Program, which provides loans rather than grants.
  • Agricultural Subsidy, which supports specific sectors rather than general income.
  • Food Aid Program, which delivers in-kind assistance rather than cash transfers.
• See: GiveDirectly Organization, Cash Transfer Program, Development Economics Experiment, Randomized Controlled Trial, Poverty Alleviation Research, Mobile Money System, Rural Development Program.

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