Peer-reviewed article
Guaranteed income as an anticipatory action for climate change and disaster preparedness in the US
Sebastian Prandoni, Stacia West, Sarah Berger Gonzalez ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This perspective article examines guaranteed income (recurring unrestricted cash transfers) as a potential policy tool for helping US households prepare for and adapt to climate change and disasters. The authors propose using the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model as a framework to analyze how guaranteed income could reduce household vulnerability before climate or disaster events occur. The article focuses on policy-level analysis rather than evaluation of specific programs or outcomes for children.
Key points
- Guaranteed income is defined as recurring, unrestricted cash transfers that households can use according to their own priorities
- The paper presents guaranteed income as an 'anticipatory action' to be taken before predicted hazardous events
- The framework examines how pre-existing economic and political vulnerabilities shape household adaptive capacity
- US guaranteed income programs often target specific at-risk populations with income eligibility requirements
- The article focuses on household-level adaptation and disaster relief policies
Limitations
This is a conceptual framework paper that does not evaluate the actual effectiveness of guaranteed income programs for any population, including children. The document does not present empirical data on outcomes, impact, or evidence of whether guaranteed income improves child well-being or disaster preparedness.
Abstract
This Perspective Article presents the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model (VSAM) as an analytical framework for assessing Guaranteed Income (GI) as a potential Anticipatory Action (AA) instrument for climate change and disaster intervention in the United States (US). GI is understood here as a recurring, unrestricted cash transfer program, meaning recipients can use the money according to household priorities rather than for a designated category (e.g., food, housing, or utilities). GI programs in the US often target specific at-risk populations and have some form of income eligibility requirement. AA refers to actions taken before a predicted hazardous event to prevent or reduce harm to lives and livelihoods [Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance]. We examine existing climate relief strategies in the US to understand how pre-existing, policy-shaped economic and political vulnerabilities shape household-level adaptive capabilities in response to stressful situations. As GI is positioned here as a household-level intervention, this Perspective Article focuses on adaptation and disaster relief policies that compound pre-existing household vulnerability.