Public Policy Types and Considerations

The process of government making decisions and taking action to address public issues.

A set of beliefs about the role of government in society, often characterized by a focus on individual liberty and limited government intervention.

A set of beliefs about the role of government in society, often characterized by a focus on social justice, equality, and government intervention to address social and economic issues.

Items or services that satisfy human needs or desires, ranging from basic necessities like food and shelter to more complex systems like transportation or public safety.

Goods that can be owned by individuals or groups, and others can be excluded from using them, usually by means of a price.

The idea that government should play a limited role in social and economic affairs, emphasizing individual responsibility and free markets.

The idea that government should actively intervene to address social and economic issues, promoting equality and fairness for all members of society.

Basic necessities that are essential for survival, including food, water, and shelter.

Goods like air, national defense, or forests that are not excludable and can be used by anyone without diminishing their availability to others.

Goods like forests, water, or fisheries that are not excludable but are finite and can be depleted.

A situation where individuals acting in their self-interest deplete a shared resource, leading to its eventual collapse. For example, overfishing in a shared fishery.

The marketplace operates efficiently by balancing supply and demand without government intervention.

A system where the government limits its role in regulating the economy, relying on private businesses to self-regulate.

Goods like cable TV, cellphone service, or private schools that are open to all but require payment for access.

The segment of the economy controlled by private businesses for profit without government intervention.

The use of currency as a common unit of exchange, simplifying transactions and reducing the need to directly exchange goods for goods.

The process of negotiating prices for goods and services between buyers and sellers in a free market.

A system of self-regulation within industries to ensure quality and protect their own value.

The inherent value of goods that cannot be easily privatized, such as environmental, social, or recreational benefits.

The potential consequence of depleting a shared resource, such as overfishing, due to individuals acting in their own self-interest.

The concept that individuals have a vested interest in protecting the value of their own property.

The process of exchanging goods and services using a currency.

Government policies that aim to distribute resources or benefits to specific groups, usually funded by taxes and benefiting only the recipients.

A type of public policy where the government intervenes to regulate or control certain activities, often for the benefit of the public good.

A policy designed to redistribute resources in society from one group to another, often funded by taxes and aimed at reducing inequality.

A policy intended to encourage specific behaviors or aid small groups of people, often involving a transfer of resources.

Government policies that aim to ensure equal access to education, regardless of socioeconomic background.

Government programs specifically designed to assist individuals in obtaining homeownership.

The disparity in access to digital technology, especially broadband internet, between different regions or socioeconomic groups.

Journalists who exposed corruption and wrongdoing, often in the business and political worlds.

A policy that aims to prevent monopolies from forming and promote fair competition in the market.

Government programs that provide financial assistance to low-income families.

Government programs that provide access to healthcare services for low-income individuals and families.

Government initiatives that aim to improve the transparency and stability of financial markets.

The practice of using government programs to encourage specific behaviors or actions, often by offering incentives or benefits.

The effort to expand broadband internet access to rural areas, often through government initiatives.

The fundamental idea that government should provide essential services like education, healthcare, and public safety for the benefit of all citizens.

A situation where a market fails to allocate resources efficiently or fairly, often due to externalities, information asymmetry, or market power.

The unintended consequences of a market transaction that affect third parties who are not involved in the transaction. Examples include pollution from a factory or traffic congestion from a new development.

A situation where one party in a transaction has more information than the other party, which can lead to unfair outcomes. Examples include a used car seller who knows more about the car's condition than the buyer.

A situation where a single firm or a small group of firms control a large share of the market, which can lead to higher prices and reduced consumer choice.

The process of constructing the Transcontinental Railroad, where the US government granted land and resources to private companies in exchange for building a national railroad system.

A federal initiative, headed by the Bureau of Reclamation, to build dams and irrigation systems to control floods and droughts, improve agriculture, and generate hydroelectric power.

The dam constructed as part of the Boulder Canyon Project, which provided flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. The dam was controversial due to its high cost and potential benefits to a limited geographical area.

A government agency responsible for managing water resources in the western United States through projects such as dam construction and irrigation.