By Ethan Winter, Nic Fishman, and Andrew Mangan

The last two days have brought the idea of giving every American $1,000 from the fringe of the policy landscape into the mainstream. As cities shut down bars and restaurants, as employers lay off service workers en masse, and as stocks continue to crash, people need relief now. Many politicians are starting to recognize this, too. Some form of the policy has been supported by Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Maxine Waters––whose legislation is more ambitious, calling for sending each adult $2000/month and $1000/month for each child–– as well as by Republican Senators Mitt Romney and Tom Cotton, though neither Republican has offered legislation. In short, there is now bipartisan support for a policy many once thought radically progressive.

Not only is giving each American $1,000 morally necessary and politically viable but also it is economically savvy: Economist Claudia Sahm of Equitable Growth argues that direct payments “provide a rapid, frontline defense early in a recession and a commitment to sustained support in a severe recession.” Citing work from 2001 and 2008, Sahm shows that giving Americans $1,000 a month would boost spending and stabilize demand; it would also sustain both those left in the lurch by uncertain markets and firms (and their employees) enough to keep them open during the pandemic. (For those interested in learning more about Sahm’s policy, she was recently interviewed on The Weeds.)

What is also becoming quickly clear is that simply sending Americans one check of $1,000 dollars is not enough. It would be far better to make them monthly, with $1,000 representing the floor and not the ceiling of how much money should be sent out.

There is also a technocratic elegance to universal programs like this. Without the snarls that means-testing necessarily entails, the government will simply send all Americans a check, giving cash to those currently in need of it. Standing on the edge of a recession, time is of the essence.

The purpose of us was simply to test attitudes among voters regarding sending people checks of $1,000 dollars, not to fully test Sahm’s policy in full. On March 2, sending every American a check of $1,000 sat 15 percentage points underwater (33 percent support, 48 percent oppose). By March 17, however, the policy enjoyed a 32-point margin of support—a dramatic 17-point swing (58 percent support, 26 oppose). Voters, faced with the tumbling economy and the oppressive strain of Covid-19, see the logic: People need money, so give it to them.