The Irish government will give 2,000 artists unrestricted weekly stipends in a program officials described as a "recognition, at government level, of the important role of the arts in Irish society." After a successful three-year pilot, the Irish government made its basic income program for artists permanent. Similar pilots have been launched here in the United States, but they're supported primarily by the nonprofit sector.
Basic income pilots have distributed over $335 million in economic relief to Americans. A coalition supported by 250 US lawmakers gathered preliminary reports for 27 pilot programs. Of that collection, none of the pilot programs resulted in employment or workforce decline. As Americans navigated economic uncertainty in recent years, including inflation and increased consumer prices, dozens of lawmakers threw their support behind guaranteed income programs.
