Microeconomics
Microeconomics
5th Edition
ISBN: 9781319098780
Author: Paul Krugman, Robin Wells
Publisher: Worth Publishers
Question
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Chapter 18, Problem aWYWL
To determine

Welfare state benefits the society.

Concept Introduction:

The welfare state is the collection of government programs designed to alleviate economic hardship such as poverty, inequality, etc.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Explanation of Solution

The welfare state is the collection of government programs designed to alleviate economic hardship such as poverty, inequality, etc. A large share of the government spending of economically rich countries consists of government transfers which are payments by the government to individuals and families, financial aid to the poor, assistance to unemployed workers, etc.

Welfare state benefits the society in the following ways,

a. Provide Social Security - This is the largest program in the U.S. welfare state. It is a non-means-tested program that guarantees retirement income to qualifying older Americans. It also provides benefits to workers who become disabled and “survivor benefits” to family members of workers who die.

b. Mean tested programs - A mean-tested program is a program available only to individuals or families whose incomes fall below a certain level. Some of these mean tested programs are Supplemental Security Income program, Negative Income tax, Food stamp program, Earned Income Tax Credit, etc. All these programs work towards benefiting and providing security to low income groups.

c. Reducing Poverty and Inequality - In order to achieve this objective, the welfare state undertakes a redistributive measure. Under this measure, the state taxes the rich and redistributes the tax revenue to the poor. This result of this measure will be a reduction in poverty and inequality. Government tries to reduce the gap between the rich and poor by doing so.

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