Imagine you need to prepare Pat Shoo-In for another debate by preparing a briefing paper for Pat on two of the topics listed below. In preparation for the debate, Pat has instructed you to evaluate both the advocates' positions and the opponents' positions (those who oppose the positions).
Your briefing paper should be 1,000- to 1,100 words and should include an introduction and a conclusion. The message, Thesis Statements, Introductions, and Conclusions, which is posted as a Class Message, provides information on writing thesis statements, introductions, and conclusions.
Use the bolded words/phrases shown below as first-level headings for your paper. Your paper should evaluate two of the following:
- Using active monetary and fiscal policy to promote economic growth/expansions and to reduce the duration and severity of recessions/contractions. (Hint: See the National Bureau of Economic Research web page at http://www.nber.org/cycles/main.html) Provide real-world examples and statistics to support your contentions.
- Using automatic stabilizers (such as unemployment insurance and a progressive income tax) to reduce the duration and severity of recessions/contractions. Provide real-world examples and statistics to support your contentions.
- Taking monetary policy decision-making authority from the Federal Reserve and placing that authority into the hands of Congress and the President. Provide real-world examples and statistics to support your contentions.
- Reducing the Federal government's discretionary powers over the Federal budget by requiring a balanced Federal government budget. Provide real-world examples and statistics to support your contentions.
- Income Inequality. Should the Federal government foster a more equal distribution of income? If so, why? If so, how? If not, why not? Provide real-world examples and statistics to support your contentions.
- Trade Restrictions and Jobs. Should the Federal government pass trade restrictions or other measures to bring jobs that have been off shored back to the U.S. Provide real-world examples and statistics to support your contentions.
- Zero-inflation target. Provide real-world examples and statistics to support your contentions.
- Tax incentives for saving. Provide real-world examples and statistics to support your contentions.
In your conclusion, discuss which positions you support and defend your positions.
Cite a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources not including our textbook (Mankiw). Appropriate sources could include the National Bureau of Economic Research (information on economic fluctuations), the Federal Reserve (information on monetary policy), the Congressional Budget Office (information on fiscal policy), and the Council of Economic Advisors (information on fiscal policy).