Government Spending

by Noel Merino

Overview

This collection of essays takes a critical look at a huge topic; government spending. Readers will explore whether government spending, be it on education, health care, or designated projects, is wasteful. They will evaluate whether government spending should allow deficits and debt, and the impact spending policies have on the economy. Essays also present ways that spending must change to meet future challenges, like the increase in retirees, the evolving clean energy industry, and the changing needs of the nation's defense. Essay sources include Christopher J. Conover, Neal McCluskey, Nicola Moore, and Andrew G. Biggs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737763232
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	01/01/2013
Series:	Opposing Viewpoints Series
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

About the Author

B01

Table of Contents

Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11

Introduction 14

Chapter 1 Is Current Government Spending Wasteful?

Chapter Preface 18

1 Government Employees Are Overcompensated Andrew G. Biggs Jason Richwine 20

2 Government Spending Is Not Wasted on the Federal Workforce John Gravois 31

3 The New Health Care Law Worsens Inefficiencies in Spending Christopher J. Conover 45

4 Repealing the New Health Care Law Would Increase Wasteful Spending Jonathan Cohn 54

5 Education vs. Incarceration Steven Hawkins 59

6 Spending on Education Should Be Reduced Neal McCluskey 65

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 69

Chapter 2 Should Government Spending Allow Deficits and Debt?

Chapter Preface 71

1 The United States Should Adopt a Balanced Budget Amendment Steven G. Calabresi 73

2 The United States Should Not Adopt a Balanced Budget Amendment Rich Lowry 81

3 The United States Has a Deficit Problem That Threatens Its Future Richard A. Posner 85

4 The United States Needs to Address Two Distinct Budget Deficits Henry J. Aaron 92

5 The Large Debt Ratio in the United States Needs to Be Reduced Nicola Moore 96

6 A Large Debt Ratio Is Not Necessarily a Problem Robert J. Shiller 103

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 108

Chapter 3 How Do Government Spending Policies Affect the Economy?

Chapter Preface 110

1 Increased Stimulus Spending Can Help End the Recession Lawrence H. Summers 112

2 Increased Stimulus Spending Will Not End the Recession Brian Riedl 119

3 Government Spending Does Not Kill Jobs Alan S. Blinder 127

4 Government Spending Kills Jobs John Hayward 132

5 The Bush Tax Cuts Have Had a Disastrous Fiscal Impact Michael Linden Michael Ettlinger 137

6 The Bush Tax Cuts Were Good for Economic Growth Andrew Foy Brenton Stransky 142

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 147

Chapter 4 How Must Government Spending Change to Meet Future Challenges?

Chapter Preface 149

1 The Early Retirement Age for Receiving Social Security Should Be Raised Andrew G. Biggs 151

2 The Retirement Age for Receiving Social Security Does Not Need to Be Raised David Rosnick 162

3 Government Spending on Clean Energy Should Be Increased Christian Parenti 169

4 Government Investment in Clean Energy Will Harm the Economy Ronald Bailey 180

5 Defense Spending Should Be Cut Thomas R. Eddlem 186

6 Defense Spending Should Not Be Cut Gary Schmitt Tom Donnelly 196

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 208

For Further Discussion 209

Organizations to Contact 211

Bibliography of Books 218

Index 222

Editorial Reviews

Review: Government Spending "Each volume in the Opposing Viewpoints series could serve as a model...not only providing access to a wide diversity of opinions, but also stimulating readers to do further research for group discussion and individual interest. Both shrill and moderate, the selections—by experts, policy makers, and concerned citizens—include complete articles and speeches, long book excerpts, and occasional cartoons and boxed quotations...all up to date and fully documented. The editing is intelligent and unobtrusive, organizing the material around substantive issues within the general debate. Brief introductions to each section and to each reading focus the questions raised and offer no slick answers."—Booklist

From the Publisher