CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Economic Policy

Take a Position

Read the "What's at Stake?" and "What's at Stake Revisited" sections in the chapter.

Take a position: Should government ever go into debt? If so, what are some valid and invalid reasons for going into debt? If not, why not?

As you develop your argument, answer the following questions:

• What are some reasons the government has gone into debt in the past? How can we determine if these reasons are justifiable?
• Who is likely to benefit from going into debt? Who is likely to be affected most negatively?
• Can you point to any actual negative consequences of the government's debt?
• What are some ways that government could keep from going into debt and still provide important services that people need?