直升机撒钱的概念由诺贝尔经济学奖获得者米尔顿·弗里德曼（Milton Friedman）在1969年提出，意指直接向公众分派新印钞票，并且央行承诺永不收回。
The idea, introduced by the Nobel laureate economist Milton Friedman in 1969, entails the distribution of freshly printed money directly to the public, with a commitment from the central bank never to withdraw it.