This paper compares political dynamics in Sweden and societal outcomes inFinland with regard to the implementation of Universal Basic Income (UBI).While Sweden still largely remains in theoretical discussion, Finland hascarried out practical experimentation, and the results are shifting. Theevidence suggests that the recent Finnish UBI experiment resulted in mixedfindings: it neither improved nor hurt employment, but increased the wellbeing of participants in terms of mental health and feelings of financialsecurity. The debate in Sweden is quite the opposite, with politicalpolarization and a caution stemming from the worry about economicfeasibility. This paper thus brings out the different cultural, economic, andsocial contexts that could harbor the acceptance and possible impact of UBIin the two Nordic countries.