TOEFL Integrated Writing

📖 Reading Passage

The introduction of a universal basic income (UBI) — a government-provided cash payment to all citizens regardless of employment status — has been proposed as a solution to rising economic inequality and job displacement due to automation. Proponents argue that UBI would offer three key benefits. First, it would reduce poverty by providing a reliable financial floor, ensuring that even those without work can meet basic needs such as food, housing, and healthcare. Second, UBI would empower individuals to pursue education, start businesses, or engage in creative work without the fear of financial ruin, thereby fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Third, by simplifying the welfare system, UBI would eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, reducing administrative costs and allowing funds to reach recipients directly, thus making the system more cost-effective than current targeted welfare programs.

🎧 Listening Lecture

The lecture challenges the claims made in the reading about universal basic income. First, while the reading argues UBI reduces poverty, the professor points out that a flat payment large enough to cover basic needs would be extremely expensive. To fund it, governments would likely need to cut other social services, such as healthcare or housing subsidies, which could actually increase overall poverty for vulnerable groups like the disabled or elderly who require higher support. Second, the idea that UBI fosters innovation is questionable. The professor notes that without the pressure to earn a living, many individuals may lack the motivation to work or start businesses, leading to a decline in productivity and economic growth. Evidence from small-scale experiments shows that some recipients simply reduce their work hours without engaging in productive activities. Third, the claim of cost-effectiveness is flawed. Although UBI eliminates some bureaucracy, it requires a massive new administrative framework to distribute payments universally and prevent fraud. Moreover, because UBI goes to everyone, including the wealthy, it is far more expensive than targeted programs that only assist the needy, ultimately raising taxes and reducing overall economic efficiency.