ap gov’t unit iv “mile-a-minute mini lecture” public policy
TRANSCRIPT
AP Gov’t UNIT IV
“Mile-a-Minute Mini Lecture”
PUBLIC POLICY
Public Sector v. Private Sector:
The Share of GDP* Taken by
Taxes,** Selected Countries
46.6
45.4
43.6
43.5
42.4
40.5
36.5
35.9
35.8
32
29.4
39.4
38.5
23.1
47
49.3
49.3Sweden
Denmark
Finland
Norway
Belgium
France
Austria
Italy
Greece
CanadaNew
ZealandSpain
Switzerland
JapanUnitedStates
Australia
Turkey
*GDP, groos domestic product, measures the total annual valueof all goods and services produced within a country.
**Includes national and local taxes and Social Security contributions
Chapter 17: Economic Policymaking
I. Government and the Economy pg. 542A. Introduction
Capitalism / Communism / Mixed EconomyB. Unemployment and Inflation
Consumer price indexC. Elections and the Economy
Incumbents (esp. prez) held accountable for bad economy
Voters care more about unemployment than inflation
D. Political Parties and the EconomyReps more worried about inflationDems more worried about unemployment
Chapter 17: Economic Policymaking
II. Policies for Controlling the Economy pg. 548A. Introduction
Laissez-faire / FDR / ReaganB. Monetary Policy and the Fed
Fed manipulate the supply of $$ & credit availableRaise / lower interest ratesSet reserve ratesBuy / sell gov’t bonds
C. Fiscal Policy: Keynesian versus Supply-Side EconomicsBottom up: spend to get out of recession & worry
about deficits laterTop down: tax breaks @ the top will “trickle down”
Chapter 17: Economic Policymaking
III. Obstacles to Controlling the Economy pg. 552Budgets prepared in advancePrivate sectorUncontrollable expendituresIV. Arenas of Economic Policymaking pg. 556A. Business and Public Policy: Subsidies Amid
RegulationsB. Consumer Policy: The Rise of the Consumer
LobbyFTC & FDA & CPSC
C. Labor and GovernmentNational Labor Relations Act 1935Taft-Hartley Act 1947
Chapter 17: Economic PolicymakingD. New Economy, New Policy ArenasV. Understanding Economic Policymaking pg.
559A. Democracy and Economic Policymaking
Voters have used democratic processes to avoid Marxist revolution
B. Economic Policymaking and the Scope of Government
Chapter 18: Social Welfare Policymaking
I. What Is Social Welfare & Why Is It So Controversial? pg. 566
Means-tested v. Entitlement programsII. Income, Poverty, and Public Policy pg. 568A. Who’s Getting What?
Income v. wealthB. Who’s Poor in America?
The poverty lineC. What Part Does Government Play?
Progressive v. proportional (flat) v. regressive taxes
Earned Income Tax Credit
Chapter 18: Social Welfare Policymaking
III. The Evolution of American Social Welfare Programs pg. 574
A. IntroductionB. The New Deal and the Elderly
Social Security Act of 1935C. President Johnson and the Great Society
Medicare 1965D. President Reagan and the Limits to the Great
SocietyE. President Clinton & Welfare Reform in the 1990s
TANF Find work within 2 yrs.5 year lifetime max.States get Block Grant to run their own programs
IRS Tax Rates 2009: Progressive Tax
If taxable income is
over…But not over… The tax is:
$0 $8,350 10%
$8,350 $33,950 15%
$33,950 $82,250 25%
$82,250 $171,550 28%
$171,550 $372,950 33%
$372,950 No limit 35%
Chapter 18: Social Welfare Policymaking
IV. The Future of Social Welfare Policy pg. 576A. Entitlement Programs: Living on Borrowed
Time? pg. 578B. Means-Tested Programs: Do They Work?C. Social Welfare Policy Elsewhere pg. 582V. Understanding Social Welfare Policy pg. 584A. Democracy and Social Welfare
Recipients of means-tested programs aren’t politically active
Recipients of entitlement programs are! (AARP)B. Social Welfare Policy and the Scope of
Government
Chapter 19: Policymaking for Healthcare & the Environment
I. Health Care Policy pg. 590A. The Health of Americans
Life expectancy & infant mortality rateB. The Cost of Health Care = 1/7 of GDP
Expensive procedures Malpractice suits Insurance masks true costs Costly prescription drugsAging population
Health Care Spending in Selected Democracies
46%
67%
70%
70%
70%
73%
74%
76%
76%
77%
78%
78%
83%
84%
84%
84%
88%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
United States
Australia
Canada
Switzerland
Italy
Netherlands
France
Spain
Germany
Finland
New Zealand
Japan
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Britain
Belgium
Pe
rce
nta
ge
of
To
tal H
ea
lth
Ca
re S
pe
nd
ing
by
Go
ve
rnm
en
t
Percentage
Chapter 19: Policymaking for Healthcare & the Environment
C. Access to Health Care HMO’s
D. The Role of Government in Health Care pays about ½ the health care bill)MedicareMedicaidHealth Care for Vets
E. Policymaking for Health Care
Chapter 19: Policymaking for Healthcare & the Environment
II. Environmental Policy pg. 600A. Economic Growth and the EnvironmentB. Environmental Policies in America
EPAEnvironmental Impact StatementsClean Air Act 1970 (Emissions Trading)Water Pollution Control Act 1972Endangered Species Act 1973
C. Energy, the EnvironmentD. Toxic Wastes & the Superfund
Yucca Mtn.??
Chapter 19: Policymaking for Healthcare & the Environment
E. Making Environmental PolicyConcern over Climate ChangeThe Kyoto Protocol??III. Understanding Health Care &
Environmental Policy pg. 610A. Democracy and Health Care and
Environmental PolicyB. The Scope of Government and Health
Care and Environmental Policy
Sources of Energy in the US
Other5%
Natural gas22%
Petroleum37%
Renewable6%
Nuclear8%
Coal22%