What Should a Federal Social Safety Net Look Like?
Published February 9, 2023
What functions do governments perform, and is there a healthy balance of government and the private sector in the economy? A commonly held view is that the government should provide a social safety net. However, the level of assistance should be balanced against the marginal tax rate imposed on recipients.
Discussion Questions:
- How big should the government be?
- When is the role of the government justified versus not justified?
Additional Resources:
- Read “How Much Do Public Employees Value Defined Benefit Versus Defined Contribution Retirement Benefits?” by Joshua Rauh. Available here.
- Watch “Tax Flight: Behavioral Responses to State Income Taxation,” with Joshua Rauh on PolicyEd. Available here.
- Watch “Setting the Record Straight on Wealth Inequality,” with Tyler Goodspeed on PolicyEd. Available here.