It’s (I think) misleading to characterize the AK permanent fund dividend as UBI, even if only because many people perceive UBI conceptually as meeting basic needs. $1500 a year pre-tax (give or take) isn’t much at all. At best it’s a less-than-adequate COLA even in the most developed towns. Presently, the statutory amount is occasionally hitting double that but somehow the state has contrived to skim it for the budget shortfalls. However, many Alaskans think it preferable to garnish the dividend payout before seeing a state-level income or sales tax implemented. As the resource development moves overseas, the economy in AK will only shrink and these choices will become more difficult, ultimately ending in worst of both worlds (no dividend and new taxes).
The Alaska PFD has decreased poverty within Alaska by 20% [0]. An extra $2-3k can have a massive impact in a state where a significant minority lives in rural/isolated regions and/or reservations. That additional $2-3k added with SNAP benefits has helped thousands of Alaskans a year keep food on their table.
In addition, Native Corporations (ANSCA) help alleviate poverty further by spreading commodities income to all members of that native tribe (eg. all Inuit from Utquiatvik will get a check from the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation thanks to revenue generated by Shell and Cheveron).
