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Himmelfarb
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40
Political Studies
Undergraduate 3
10/17/2011

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Term
Public Policy
Definition
involves an international course of action followed by a government for resolving an issue of public concern.
Term
Outputs
Definition
tangible measurable results.

Example: Number of meals, Vaccines
Term
Unintended Consequences
Definition
when Policy attempts to change individual behavior it sometimes worsens the situation.
Insured> Risky Behavior- Obesity,
Term
Four Context of American Politics
Definition
Institutional- balance of powers
Fiscal -taxing and spending policies prescribed by the president.
Demographic
Ideology- Liberal vs. Conservative
Term
Liberals vs. Conservatives
Definition
Economics-conserv-small gov, low tax
Culture-absolute morality, intervention
Foriegn policy- intervention, war
Term
Pareto Optimal System
Definition
Full Information
No transaction Cost
Amoral
No public goods
No monopolies
Term
Externalities
Definition
They are defined as third party (or spill-over) effects arising from the production and/or consumption of goods and services for which no appropriate compensation is paid.
Term
Negative Externalities
Definition
A third party bears the cost of a transaction between a buyer and seller.
Example. Pollution
Term
Positive Externalities
Definition
A third party (or Free-rider) benefits without paying the cost.
Example: Education, Flu Shot
Higher salary, more taxes public service would be greater.
Term
Free Rider Problem
Definition
people enjoy public goods whether or not they pay for it.
Term
What does the gov do to affect externalities?
Definition
Subsidies and taxes respectively to reduce externalities
Term
Why government gets involved in Market Failures
Definition
Ethical issues
Externalities
Term
Public Good without Government
Definition
Emergency - Red Cross
Social Pressure- Church
Desires of one party
Term
Entitlement
Definition
programs promising aid without time limit to anyone who qualifies.
Term
Left Ideology of Entitlements
Definition
Rawls veil ignorance - maximize the minimum, generous government benefit.
Term
Right Ideology of Entitlements
Definition
Oken Leaky Bucket - rich give to poor = poorer society
*poor work less
*rich work less
*pay beaurocracy who decide these things
* robin hooding leads to leakage
Term
What is the difference in view of education between conservatives and liberals?
Definition
Con.- You are the beneficiary
Lib.- Society is the beneficiary
Term
Problem inherent in direct democracy
Definition
Paradox of voting
Intensity of Preference
Citizens vote for issues themselves
Term
Problems inherent in representative democracy
Definition
Mandates-
Assumption
Concentrated Benefits
Diffused benefits/concentrated cost
Collective Action Problem
Limited Time Horizons- Wilbur Mills
District Based Politics
Policy Making is Irrational
Term
Concentrated Benefits
Problems inherent in representative democracy
Definition
small group wants to lobby govt for a purpose, the cost is diffuse amongst millions of people.
Ex. GM Bailout
Term
Diffused Benefits/ Concentrated cost
Problems inherent in representative democracy
Definition
benefits are diffused amongst millions while one industry is fighting to go against the burden. Because the benefit is so dispersed the public doesn't fight back.
Term
District Base Legislatures
Problems inherent in representative democracy
Definition
members of congress have a self interest to fight for their state. They are wasteful.
Ex. Sen. Stevens, Sen Byrd
Term
Limited Time Horizon
Problems inherent in representative democracy
Definition
congress members are so preoccupied with reelection that they enact policies that are going to be paid down the road.
Ex. 1972 Wilbur Mills running for president purposes social security . Leads to massive inflation, job loss fix by payroll taxes.
Term
Policy Making is irrational
Problems inherent in representative democracy
Definition
cant compare alternatives
proceeds problem
Ideology driven
Term
3 Can Garbage Solution = Window Of Opportunity
Definition
Problems
Policies
Politics
Term
Window of Opportunity
Definition
three cans line up for policy to be passed
EX. Regan Tax Cuts
EX. Failed Ted Kennedy
Term
Problems with government appearances
Definition
1.Difficult to give value to outputs of beaurocracy- i.e. DMV sucks
2. Targeting-Private sector doesn't care who consumes a good while public targets a demographic. i.e. Get food to the poor for free and to the rich at a price
3. Effects of Limited competition
-Public sector has little incentive for change or innovation. A good worker is not compensated for better work.
4. Civil Service- Incentive to do the minimum, you can't get fired easily in a gov job.
5. Few incentives for elected officials.
dont want to take a public bureaucracy publicly .
Term
Why was 00-10 the lost decade?
Definition
-more gov spending
-lower tax revenue
-lack of growth in real median household income
Term
Three components of The Federal Budget
Definition
Revenues-spending
Mandatory spending- entitlements
-welfare, food stamps, social security 53%of budget
3. Discretionary-Defense spending, education, FBI, CIA
Term
What is the CBO?
Definition
The Congressional Budget Office. -Non partisan arm of the congress.
-Optimistic about growth because they assume all policies will continue.
Term
What is the AMT
Definition
Alternative Minimum Tax. If you have certain qualifications you get a tax deduction. People with high state and local taxes get taxed by this. Not adjusted for inflation. Changed every year.
Term
What do Conservatives and Liberals say about the debt?
Definition
Conservatives say we have a spending problem
Liberals say we have a revenue problem.
Term
Deficit
Definition
Government spends more money than it takes in
Total deficits is the national debt
Term
Are deficit bad?
Definition
No
Significant deficits can accompany economic growth
Economy influences deficits. Poor economy, higher deficit.
Not inherently bad, but why we are running it?
Some deficits are for a purpose
Not severe considering revenue
Term
Are deficit bad?(Yes)
Definition
Yes

absorb savings that would otherwise be used for private investments.

Interest rates to rise

Undermines central tenant: current generation has responsibility to leave the world a better place for future generations

Increasing % of debt owned by foreign power
Term
Components of Federal Budget
Definition
Revenues
Mandatory Spending Entitlements = 53%
Discretionary = defense spending non defense,everything else.
Term
Important assumptions about the Economy
Definition
Economy will gradually bounce back
Policies will remain at status quo
AMT
Tax Patch
Medicare pay patch
Term
What are the main features of american gov institutions and our relationship to them
Definition
There is a bias against action because of separation of powers/ checks and balances.

-there is a low trust in government. gov trust has a direct correllation with economic wellbeing
Term
2 facts about america's revenue
Definition
60% of gov revenue is from taxes
top 1% pay 40% of total taxes.
Term
What were some unintended consequences of cash for clunkers?
Definition
-by destroying old cars prices rise
-fewer parts available so prices rise
-more debt from new car loans
-clunkers driven less than new cars so 61 more gallons burned per year
-Japanese recieved benefit instead of americans bc they made most of the cars
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