Comment by creer

> I'm interested in this as a faster intervention than QE.

But BI / UBI's usual argument is that because it would be long term and reliable, it would allow the recipients to make long term choices. Such as taking on an occupation they like rather than one that pays better.

If you make this an intervention medium, you loose this predictability.

The intervention style you discuss has been used during the Covid crisis: just mail checks to people based on last known year income. That's always available. It's not a question of basic income.