Purpose:
To discuss your viewpoint about the tradeoffs between equity and efficiency while analyzing a particular transfer payment program.
Requirement:
Select a transfer payment and analyze the pros and cons of the current system in the United States or abroad and how the system could be improved.
Examples of transfer payments would be Social Security, Medicare, unemployment payments, Pell grants, welfare programs, etc. There are many more, so don’t let this list limit you. You can write about almost any type of transfer payment you would like.
Please answer the following questions:
Use positive economics* to analyze the current situation. (Describe the program as it is now)
Use normative economics** to analyze the current situation. Do you believe the current situation comes down too much on the side of equity or efficiency? Explain.
Come up with a plan for how you believe the situation could be improved. In this section, you will need to come up with at least one (1) specific policy that the government could implement and how you believe this policy will change the situation both domestically and potentially globally.
*Positive economics is an analysis of facts; what is.
**Normative economics uses economics to make value judgments about the situation.
Submit a report that is 4-5 pages long, typed double-spaced. This report should be well written with an introduction and conclusion and use appropriate citations.
Research:
Please analyze the industry by answering the questions below. Some suggested sources are below (though you can use other sources as well).
Social Insurance Programs: https://www.nasi.org/research
Hartnell Library Research Guides
Your Micro Economy Today textbook ( Schiller, et al)
the Economist
Wikipedia is not an acceptable source!
Submission:
Please submit your paper (.docx or .pdf, Google docs formats work best) to the Turnitin assignment link below. Your work must be your own. Plagiarized work will receive a 0 for the paper and/or for the entire course. You can use quotes and paraphrase sources with appropriate citations.
What is Plagiarism?
Format:
Must use MLA or APA citation format.
What is APA?
All references should be cited. I expect a minimum of 5 sources, but most likely you will need many more.
Appendices: Source materials must be included in separate appendices such as economic reports that are used to draw conclusions. Other source materials may be included in an appendix if it meets all of the following criteria: 1) the source is relevant to your topic; 2) you refer to the material in written analysis and want the reader to be able to view the full source, and 3) the source material is too long to only use a direct quotation
