Canadian Experiment (Mincome)

The Mincome project was a Canadian social experiment conducted in the 1970s in Manitoba and Alberta, testing the idea of providing a basic income to all residents regardless of employment status. The goal was to assess whether guaranteed income would reduce poverty, improve well-being, and affect work incentives. Participants received a regular, unconditional payment intended to cover essential living costs. While the project was ultimately scaled back due to budget cuts, studies from Mincome indicated benefits such as improved health, increased school attendance, and reduced crime, offering valuable insights into the potential impacts of universal basic income policies.