Yes, this is a valid point.  Look at the Pilgrim family (as an extreme).  A family of 15 living a low budget life with $30,000+ free money being thrown at them.  They probably would have never come to AK if it wasn't for the free money.  In Anchorage you have Asian clans crammed into a living area where $20,000 from the state augments a few minimum wage salaries.  The PFD makes the low-budget economics work for these people.  Definitely, the PFD is a big draw to come to Alaska from 3rd world countries around the globe.