Question 1

What is a major critique of partial and full privatization of Social Security?

Accepted Answer

The transition to privatization would be expensive, as it would require significant changes to the current Social Security system and infrastructure. It would also involve the costs of transitioning individual accounts to private investment options.

Question 2

Which areas of social policy appear to be the most conflictual? Which have been most open to compromise? Why are some areas more likely to see compromise while others remain mired in partisan differences that prevent solutions from being enacted?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which areas of social policy appear to...

Question 3

What is a monopoly and what are the major concerns with monopolies on the economy? What can the government do about monopolies? Should the federal government have the power to regulate monopolistic business practices? Beyond regulating monopolistic practices, should the government be allowed to regulate business further?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a monopoly and what are...

Question 4

It is widely believed that politicians seem to be less interested in social policies concerning the poor and disadvantaged because:

Accepted Answer

Politicians often prioritize issues that are important to their voter base, and the poor and disadvantaged are less likely to be politically active and therefore less likely to influence political agendas.

Question 5

Who do you believe has the most influence in setting the country's fiscal policy and why? What about its monetary policy? Do you believe that is the appropriate distribution of power? Are there government players that you believe should have more or less say in fiscal or monetary policy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Who do you believe has the most...

Question 6

Democrats and Republicans generally have divergent views on what impact free-trade agreements, such as NAFTA, have on the United States' economic well-being. Discuss the arguments that each side typically makes concerning the impact of recent free-trade agreements on the U.S. economy. Which position makes the more compelling case, and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Democrats and Republicans generally have divergent views...

Question 7

What did the No Child Left Behind legislation do?

Accepted Answer

The No Child Left Behind legislation placed national accountability and testing requirements in every school district. It required all students to be tested annually in reading and math in grades 3-8, and once in high school. Schools were expected to show "adequate yearly progress" and faced consequences such as losing funding or being required to provide supplemental services if they did not meet the requirements. The legislation did not increase or decrease federal funding for education, expand Head Start, or require every school district to offer special education classes.

Question 8

What is income inequality? How can it be measured? Is income inequality a growing problem in the United States? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is income inequality? How can it...

Question 9

What are the four major taxes collected by the federal government? Which of these taxes are regressive and which are progressive? In your answer, define the idea of regressive and progressive taxes. What do you think of the federal government's tax policies? Are they fair or unfair? Are they too much or too little?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the four major taxes collected...

Question 10

What is the ''individual mandate'' as it applies to health care?

Accepted Answer

The individual mandate is a provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires individuals who are not covered by their work to purchase a personal health insurance policy or pay a penalty. Option A is incorrect, as it refers to the employer mandate. Option C is incorrect, as courts cannot require certain individuals to have more expensive policies. Option D is incorrect, as subsidies are available for individuals with lower incomes, regardless of whether they have an individual policy or not. Option E is incorrect, as it refers to the employer mandate for businesses with 50 or more employees.

Question 11

The United States is currently running a trade deficit. Why is the trade deficit a potential problem? What limits the government's ability to reduce the trade deficit? If you were a member of Congress, what policies would you recommend to reduce the trade deficit? Defend your recommendations against any possible objections.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The United States is currently running a...

Question 12

Politicians have established a number of goals that equate to a healthy economy. Discuss some of these goals and how they positively impact the nation's economic conditions. Explain GDP and discuss whether or not it is a good measure of the nation's economic strength and well-being.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Politicians have established a number of goals...

Question 13

Three major U.S. social policies are Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Policy experts believe them to be in long-term financial danger. Why do they believe that and how might we fix them to make them more fiscally sustainable?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Three major U.S. social policies are Social...

Question 14

Research on poverty has found:

Accepted Answer

According to research on poverty, Democratic presidencies generally see a larger reduction in the poverty rates than Republican presidencies.

Quiz 14: Economic and Social Policy