Question 33·Hard·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1 Economist Marisol Grant argues that a national universal basic income (UBI) would stimulate economic dynamism. Citing Finland’s 2017–2018 pilot program, she writes that the security of a guaranteed monthly payment encouraged thousands of recipients to launch new businesses, proving that UBI is a powerful catalyst for entrepreneurship. Grant contends that similar effects would occur on a larger scale in the United States.
Text 2 A 2022 peer-reviewed analysis by Lin and Kapoor examined tax records and survey data from the same Finnish pilot. The researchers found no statistically significant uptick in business registrations among UBI recipients compared with a control group. While recipients reported greater life satisfaction and reduced stress, their rates of self-employment and startup formation remained “effectively unchanged.”
Based on the texts, how would Lin and Kapoor (Text 2) most likely respond to the claim in the underlined sentence of Text 1?
For cross-text questions, first underline or note the key claim in the referenced part of Text 1 (what effect, on what outcome). Then briefly summarize Text 2’s findings in your own words, separating areas of agreement (same facts or effects) from areas of disagreement (different results or interpretations). Finally, scan the choices for the one that accurately captures that relationship—especially whether the second text fully agrees, partially agrees (agrees on some effects but not others), or directly contradicts the first—while rejecting any choice that adds details not stated in the passages.
Hints
Focus on the exact claim being challenged
First, restate in your own words what Grant is claiming in the underlined sentence: what effect does she say UBI had on business creation in Finland?
Separate well-being effects from business effects
In Text 2, identify what changed for UBI recipients and what stayed the same. Are the researchers talking about happiness and stress, business activity, or both?
Look for agreement vs. disagreement
Ask yourself: Do Lin and Kapoor fully agree with Grant’s description of business creation, completely reject it, or agree with some parts of her description but not others? Choose the option that best captures this relationship.
Step-by-step Explanation
Pinpoint the claim in the underlined sentence of Text 1
Look closely at the underlined sentence in Text 1. Grant says that in Finland "the security of a guaranteed monthly payment encouraged thousands of recipients to launch new businesses, proving that UBI is a powerful catalyst for entrepreneurship."
So her key claim is:
- UBI gave people financial security.
- That security encouraged many new businesses to start.
- Therefore, UBI strongly boosts (is a "powerful catalyst" for) entrepreneurship.
Summarize what Lin and Kapoor actually found in Text 2
Now read Text 2 and pick out the findings:
- They looked at the same Finnish pilot.
- They found no statistically significant uptick in business registrations among UBI recipients compared with a control group.
- They say self-employment and startup formation remained "effectively unchanged."
- However, recipients reported greater life satisfaction and reduced stress.
So, according to Lin and Kapoor:
- Well-being improved.
- Entrepreneurship measures (business registrations, self-employment, startups) did not meaningfully increase.
Decide how Lin and Kapoor would respond and match that to a choice
To answer the question, ask: How would researchers who saw no measurable increase in entrepreneurship, but did see better life satisfaction, respond to Grant’s claim that UBI encouraged thousands to start new businesses and proves UBI is a powerful entrepreneurship catalyst?
They would likely:
- Acknowledge the well-being improvements (life satisfaction, reduced stress).
- Disagree with the claim that UBI significantly increased entrepreneurship, because their data show no statistically significant uptick and "effectively unchanged" business activity.
The choice that captures this partial agreement on well-being plus clear disagreement about entrepreneurship is:
By acknowledging that UBI improved well-being but arguing that it did not measurably increase entrepreneurship.