Research

In order to learn more about what Ann Arbor residents do with their guaranteed income payments and how it affects people’s well-being, the University of Michigan will conduct a study of Guaranteed Income to Grow Ann Arbor. Kristin Seefeldt, Ph.D., is the lead researcher, and many other researchers and students at U-M are involved.

When the pilot began in January 2024, GIG A2 participants completed a baseline survey. Key findings from the baseline survey include:

Paying bills, saving money, and reducing stress were the top needs and priorities identified by GIG A2 participants.
Research on entrepreneurial efforts in the U.S. by individuals with lower incomes finds that micro-businesses are more likely to be led by younger people, women, and people of color compared to the overall population of small business owners. The demographics of GIG A2 participants reflect the national trend.
GIG A2 participants are involved in a variety of types of entrepreneurship and gig work. Charts in the baseline report provide more detail on the types of work people perform.

A new GIG A2 research survey is now available. If you are a participant in GIG A2, please check your email for a link to the survey. If you have questions or need assistance with the survey, please call (734) 926-5957 or email annarborguaranteedincome@umich.edu.

To learn more about the research, please keep reading!

What is a Randomized Control Trial?

And why are we using it?

The overall study of the guaranteed income program will use something called a Randomized Control Trial (RCT). In an RCT:

Selection is random. No one person or group gets an advantage over another, ensuring fairness in who receives the guaranteed income.
Because people are randomly assigned to receive guaranteed income or not, we can be certain that any differences we see between those who receive the payment and those who do not is due to the payment.

With the guaranteed income pilot:

Eligible individuals will be selected to either receive the payments (100 funded participants) or not (100 unfunded participants).
Selection will be by “luck of the draw.” The researchers will not give an advantage to anyone who is determined to be eligible.
Funded participants will receive $528 a month for 24 months.
Unfunded participants will not receive the guaranteed income payment, but they will receive a small monthly stipend for participating in the research study.
Both groups will receive $50 each time they complete a survey or interview for the study.

What does it take to be involved in the research study?

Funded and unfunded participants are both vital to the success of the research study. People in both groups will be asked to complete three surveys:

one at the start of the program,
one after the first year, and
one at the end of the program.

These surveys will ask about a number of different topics, including how you use the guaranteed income money if you receive it and other experiences you may have, such as affording food, housing, and child care. We will also ask questions about your health and well-being. Some people will be asked to participate in interviews with a research team member. Each time you complete a survey or an interview, you will receive $50 as a token of appreciation. Additionally, you may choose to skip any question on the survey or in an interview you do not wish to answer, and you may withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your guaranteed income payment.

Why is it important to have a group that does not receive payment?

While it can be disappointing to find out you are not receiving the payment but are being asked to be part of a study, the contribution you provide is so important and valued. Guaranteed income pilots are growing in popularity across the country, and being part of the unfunded group means you will be part of a larger movement to help develop more just and fair systems of assistance in the United States and even the world.

How will participants' privacy be protected?

Researchers at the University of Michigan are very serious about protecting your confidentiality and will take the following steps to make sure that your information is protected. All data will be stored on U-M protected servers and accessible only to the study team. In addition, while we will use your individual information to follow up with you to complete the surveys, when we analyze the data we will use identification numbers and present our results in an aggregate form, meaning data will be grouped together so that no one person is identified. If you participate in the interview, only pseudonyms (fake names of your choosing) will be attached to your data. At the end of the study, we will delete all of your identifying information.