Deck 1: Social Policy and the American Welfare State

Question 1

How would the economist John Maynard Keynes react to a recession in contrast to Milton Friedman?

Answer 1

no answer

Question 2

The authors describe neoliberalism as a rightward shift away from the liberal support for a government-funded welfare state.What best represents an example of a neoliberal policy proposal?

A)expanded government funding for education,research,and job training.
B)increased tariffs on foreign imports to protect American jobs.
C)restrictions on compensation paid to corporate executives.
D)higher corporate tax rates to fund expansion in safety net programs.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

How can social welfare programs benefit the business community?

Answer 3

no answer

Question 4

How would a free market economist justify welfare spending?

A)by arguing that welfare spending is an investment in human capital.
B)by suggesting that welfare spending increases consumer demand for products.
C)by appealing to compassion and altruism.
D)by arguing for the common good instead of self-interest.

Question 5

What is meant by "good" and "bad" public spending categories? Give an example of each.

Question 6

What would represent a social welfare response to the problem of ex-offender underemployment?

A)parole stipulations requiring ex-offender employment.
B)geographical restrictions on ex-offender living arrangements.
C)removal of licensing restrictions for felony offenses.
D)no cost job training and employment counseling.

Question 7

Conservatives underestimated three key factors in their work to change social programs.Which of the following is not one of those factors?

A)The resiliency of the welfare state.
B)The continued support of the middle class.
C)Most people do not want governmental regulation of services.
D)The difficulty of translating rhetoric into viable reform proposals.

Question 8

Decisions reached by nonprofit agencies are examples of

A)Governmental social welfare policy.
B)Voluntary social welfare policy.
C)Corporate social welfare policy.
D)Institutional social welfare policy.

Question 9

The American social welfare system is

A)in transition and moving in a conservative direction.
B)influenced more by democracy.
C)influenced more by capitalism.
D)similar to that of other industrial nations.

Question 10

Since 2008,unemployment in the United States has fallen,but remains around five percent.How would a Keynesian economist attempt to decrease unemployment?

A)by decreasing government tax rates on individuals.
B)by printing more money and increasing government spending.
C)by increasing government tax rates on corporations.
D)by reducing government regulations on businesses.

Question 11

American social welfare programs are

A)provided by the public and private sectors.
B)exclusively governmental.
C)delivered solely in the nonprofit sector.
D)regulated primarily by states.

Question 12

The authors present Cultural Conservatism as the most current manifestation of a conservative political ideology.How Cultural Conservatism be most easily distinguished from other forms of conservatism?

A)Cultural Conservatism promotes small government.
B)Cultural Conservatism promotes a laissez-faire approach to economics.
C)Cultural Conservatism promotes conformity in social affairs.
D)Cultural Conservatism promotes individual self-interest.

Question 13

According to the authors,one's belief about what constitutes the public good has a significant impact on one's political view.How would a person who values self-sufficiency,work,and the marketplace tend to vote?

A)for the Green Party candidate.
B)for the Libertarian candidate.
C)for the Republican candidate.
D)for the Democratic candidate.

Question 14

The function of social welfare is

A)to help the poor and the non-poor.
B)to provide benefits to people to meet their basic life needs.
C)to enhance relationships among diverse people groups.
D)to distinguish between those who are worthy of help and those who are unworthy.

Question 15

What would happen to the price of a hamburger if fast food restaurants were required to pay a living wage to all employees so that EITC benefits would be unnecessary?

A)the price of a hamburger would most likely increase significantly.
B)the price of a hamburger would most likely stay about the same.
C)the price of a hamburger would most likely decrease significantly.
D)it is impossible to predict because there is no relation between EITC benefits,wages,and the price of a hamburger.

Question 16

All of the following are examples of in-kind benefits except

A)public assistance.
B)food stamps.
C)WIC coupons.
D)low-income energy assistance.

Question 17

What are the main differences between traditional liberalism and neoliberalism?

Question 18

How is social welfare becoming,as the text describes,a "big business"?

Question 19

What political ideology would be most likely to support an expansion of Social Security benefits?

A)Liberalism
B)The Self-Reliance School
C)Neoconservatism
D)Libertarianism

Question 20

Social welfare policy flows from a mixed economy.This means that

A)governmental,voluntary,and corporate sectors all contribute.
B)the economy moves from surplus to deficit.
C)all people in our country benefit from social welfare programs.
D)both cash and in-kind services are provided.