The South African Civil Society Information Service

How about Handing over Hard Cash to the Poor with No Strings Attached?

24 Oct 2014

Technology allows us to give cash directly to the poorest people on the planet. Should we do it? In this thought-provoking TED talk, veteran aid worker Joy Sun talks about unconditional cash transfers highlighting an innovative project that makes once off cash donations to poor individuals with no strings attached. Watch this talk to learn what difference a thousand dollar direct cash transfer can make to the life of a poor person who is able to spend the money as he or she pleases. The results have been surprising and debunk the notion that the poor are unable to make autonomous judgments about what’s good for them. Sun is chief operating officer at GiveDirectly.

© TED

Editor’s Note: You might also be interested in “Cash to the Poor: Pennies from Heaven” published by The Economist.

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