JFI testifies before the Alaska state legislature

On May 11th, JFI’s Director of Research Sidhya Balakrishnan testified in favor of an opt-in structure for the Alaska Permanent Fund before the Alaska State Legislature. Her proposed restructuring would allow recipients to determine how frequently their dividends are disbursed depending on their financial constraints: “On an annual disbursement schedule, the ideal scenario is one in which recipients smooth their consumption in anticipation of the dividend at the end of the year. Poor households which are constrained in terms of savings and access to credit are unable to do this. The option of more frequent disbursements would allow these households to smooth their consumption and would thus maximize their benefit.” Link to the full testimony (audio begins at 11:48). Link to more details on the relevant bill, HB 141.

View an article about the proposed changes and Sidhya’s testimony here.