The Biggest Impact of the Tin Roof

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"I've been doing this for over a decade now, and you still have moments where you catch yourself in a moment of judgment. And recipients will patiently explain why they spent the money on that," he says. "To know that he or she has a roof over their heads is the most dignifying, empowering thing of all."

Economic theory teaches that people make choices that provide them with the greatest benefit. So why not extend this idea to the realm of charity? Economists and social entrepreneurs Michael Faye and Paul Niehaus of GiveDirectly argue that giving people cash with no strings attached is the most cost-effective means of helping the poorest people in the world and their communities.