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Adam Smith Role Of Government Essay

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Adam Smith and the Role of Government 7. According to Adam Smith, what are the government’s responsibilities in a society? Stressed by the “invisible hand,” Smith believes that government needs to take a hands off approach and let the citizens should take certain responsibilities in order to create a successful community. Firstly, he believed that the government had a duty to protect the nation from invasion. He argued that a permanent military force was necessary to defend any advanced society. He supported an independent court system and administration of justice to control crime and protect property. He advocated for education for all of the youth and setting tax rates, according to one’s ability to pay. Just like today, the government is here to protect the people and defend the nation from any threat. 8. A. Define the term public works. B. Give two examples of public works. C. According to Smith, why should the government supply the public works? Explain your answer. Public works is defined as the work of building such things as roads, schools, and reservoirs, carried out by the government for the community. According to Smith, the government should supply the public works because maintaining an infrastructure promotes the free flow of commerce. Profit-seeking individuals may not be able to efficiently build and operate items such as a postal system, harbors, and canals. These areas alone will be under governmental control and may not be a profit driven source for

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