Public Policy Concepts and Implications

Professor James Strickler introduces public policy, explaining its origins and purposes. The lesson covers market failures, social engineering, and political ambition as reasons for government action. Market failures occur when free market choices lead to undesirable outcomes, prompting government intervention. Social engineering involves government efforts to adjust societal behaviors for fairness. Political ambition drives policies that benefit certain groups, often to gain political support. The lesson concludes with a review of these concepts.

What is the primary role of public policy?

• To reduce government size

• To increase taxes

• To guide government actions

• To provide entertainment

Which of the following is an example of market failure?

• A decrease in unemployment

• A successful business merger

• A monopoly controlling an industry

• A balanced budget

Why might the government intervene in cases of pollution?

• To reduce factory production

• To promote international trade

• To internalize the cost of pollution

• To increase factory profits

What is social engineering in the context of public policy?

• Building new infrastructure

• Increasing military spending

• Adjusting societal behaviors for fairness

• Creating fun public events

How did the government address school segregation in the 1970s?

• By reducing teacher salaries

• By building new schools

• By busing students to different neighborhoods

• By increasing school funding

What is a common goal of wealth redistribution policies?

• To reduce government size

• To eliminate taxes

• To promote social justice

• To increase the wealth of the rich

What is a potential motivation for politicians to create public policies?

• To increase taxes

• To gain political support

• To reduce their workload

• To decrease public spending

How do politicians 'buy votes' through public policy?

• By paying voters directly

• By increasing campaign spending

• By creating policies that benefit certain groups

• By reducing election costs

What is the main reason politicians engage in public policy, according to the lesson?

• To get reelected

• To increase public spending

• To improve international relations

• To reduce government size

Which of the following best describes public policy?

• A series of military strategies

• A list of tax regulations

• A collection of government directives

• A set of entertainment guidelines