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Iranian expat with some insight into this program here; any study that doesn't isolate confounding factors will be inconclusive at best, especially since the Ir

Iranian expat with some insight into this program here; any study that doesn't isolate confounding factors will be inconclusive at best, especially since the Iranian economy has been changing drastically in recent years. Hyperinflation during Ahmadinejad administration, economic embargoes, and the nuclear deal affected people's lives so much more than a measly basic income. Also, a fraction of the average (or even median) income is not a good indicator, because of high class division in Iran. It certainly doesn't translate into what $16K can give you in the US. E.g. if you're an unemployed youngster living with your parents in Tehran, it can help you with your entertainment budget, but it's in no way a life-changing amount.

bryondowd 9y ago
Just curious, but would it be enough to subsist in a rural part of the country? Just curious what the amount of money could cover, in terms of food and shelter.
- pesfandiar 9y ago
  It could be a big help. In fact, the program's name roughly translates to "subsidy" or "helper amount", which sets the right expectation I guess. The cost of living is vastly different in urban centres and rural areas though, as is the quality of life in general. You can live on that kind of money if you live in the boonies and only consume locally-sourced food (increasingly rare as the middle east is getting hit hard by climate change), but anything that's imported will be prohibitively expensive. That includes medicine and fuel. Once you enter a large city (where you can have an acceptable quality of life), shelter becomes very expensive. Putting together the deposit to rent an apartment for Iranian youth is almost as hard as saving up for a mortgage downpayment in the US.
  - geff82 9y ago
    And honestly, most now live in the cities. By the way on a good standard for many and with almost no homeless people to be seen (I call you, USA).

bryondowd 9y ago

Just curious, but would it be enough to subsist in a rural part of the country? Just curious what the amount of money could cover, in terms of food and shelter.

pesfandiar 9y ago
It could be a big help. In fact, the program's name roughly translates to "subsidy" or "helper amount", which sets the right expectation I guess. The cost of living is vastly different in urban centres and rural areas though, as is the quality of life in general. You can live on that kind of money if you live in the boonies and only consume locally-sourced food (increasingly rare as the middle east is getting hit hard by climate change), but anything that's imported will be prohibitively expensive. That includes medicine and fuel. Once you enter a large city (where you can have an acceptable quality of life), shelter becomes very expensive. Putting together the deposit to rent an apartment for Iranian youth is almost as hard as saving up for a mortgage downpayment in the US.
- geff82 9y ago
  And honestly, most now live in the cities. By the way on a good standard for many and with almost no homeless people to be seen (I call you, USA).