What you should know about Andrew Yang’s plan to give every American $1000/month

How would you like to receive $1,000 just for being over 18 and existing, no strings attached? That’s the cornerstone of Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang’s campaign, and it’s receiving wide support across the political spectrum, but especially among Yang’s liberal technocrat base. Yang argues that due to an assault on the common man by computers and Wall Street, the only way to “save” America is by giving everyone money every month for no reason at all.

There is a lot of truth in what Andrew Yang says. Truck driver, retail, and call center operator jobs are being threatened by advances in automation. Some occupations which are very common may become less common in the future. Some big companies and rich people do pay less than their fair share into the system despite enjoying a controlling stake in the economy.

In this article I will deconstruct Yang’s plan and explore its effects.

How much will it cost and how is it paid for?

The total projected cost of Yang’s “Freedom Dividend”, according to his website, would be 2.8 trillion dollars. That’s 70% of the 2019 federal budget, a budget which is already 25% underfunded, and a whopping 13% of the current GDP.