Late last year, the government of Finland announced it would launch an experiment where as many as 100,000 citizens would receive up to 1,000 euros a month, starting in 2017. Those people would get cash directly, instead of other government benefits, for two years to see how well it works. There are no strings to this basic income, people can spend it as they choose.

From Kenya to the Netherlands, pilot projects are taking root and will soon test a simple idea – give cash to the poor. The idea goes by different names, including universal basic income, cash transfers and the negative income tax. Successful versions, like Bolsa Família