For many, the logic seemed unassailable: Giving poor families money would measurably improve the lives of their children. And so a few years ago, social scientists set out to test whether that assumption was right.

The results of the experiment have shocked them.

Guest: Jason DeParle, a Times reporter who covers poverty in the United States.

Background reading: A rigorous experiment appears to show that monthly checks intended to help disadvantaged children did little for their well-being.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Photo: Andrew Seng for The New York Times

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