A federal project to control the ravages of the great Tennessee River. Why would anyone object . Medical advances have added years to americans lives. But not everyone can afford medical cares high cost. Why shouldnt the government guarantee a minimum level of health care . In 1978, californians voted for proposition 13 even though it was likely to result in cutbacks of government services. Had the gornment gone too far . Not everyone agrees on governments proper role. Some feel government has gotten out of hand. Others feel were not doing enough. Public goods and responsibility how far should we go . Well examine thatuestion with the help of economic analyst richard gill on this edition of economics usa. Im david schoumacher. We can all enjoy the benefits of Public Services such as museums, schools, and highways, but they have to be paid for. They are, usually in the form of taxes. Why must the government provide these services . Why cant we rely instead on the free market . Its a con
The producers of every item try toredict what t shoppers want and what theyll pay. Supply and demand what sets e ice . Economic analyst richardill and i willmi tha on this editio of economics usa. Im vid schoumacher. Rarely have americans had to worry aboutater. They take it forranted because its plentiful available, and cheap. But for what water does, there is no substitute. What would it take to show how much water is reallyorth . 1975 marked the beginning of one of californias worst droughts. Its a semiarid state with a gigantic agricultural industry, dependent on water fmits snow pack and wier rains but in the fall and winter of 1975 winter rains and snow did not come. Accustomed to dry spells californians showed little concern. But thatinter wore on witho rain or snow and soon, what was greaweathefor some began causing problemsfor others. The summer of 76 exploded into flame as o1,400 fires swept the state in a threeweek period. Marin resident Sharon Mooney recalls. When the rains
No business can guarantee it will make a profit, but there are strategies that can increase chances for success. The firm how can it keep costs down . With richard gill, well investigate that problem on this edition of economics usa. Im david schoumacher. Pepsi cola hits the spot 12 full ounces thats a lot. Id like to buy the world a coke and keep it company thats the real thing. We made our choice make it a pepsi. Soft drink companies spend millns advertising to make billions in sales. Its a 23 billionayear industry. With that many sales, every decision is crucial. Youre the pepsi generation. The words im about to say will change the course of history coca cola has a new taste. Its the best ever. In 1985, the Coca Cola Company announced to the world it was changing the coke formula. To millions of customers, the new taste was an outrage. The rest is history. Five years earlier, a key ingredient was changed, and it went unnoticed. What was that change . Why did the company risk it . In
What was the result . Rising prices became a fact of life despite the clamor to do something about it. Inflation how did the spiral begin . With economic analyst richard gill, well explore that on this edition of economics usa. Im david schoumacher. What is inflation . Here at the bureau of labor statistics, they measure inflation, in a sense, with the Consumer Price index, totaling the costs of goods and services, then comparing them from month to month and year to year. Inflation has affected everybody. Some look back nostalgically to the threecent postage stamp. When prices go up a little, were not surprised. But when they get out of hand, we take notice, as we did in the late 1960s when prices began spiraling upward. What caused that spiral . As the country grew in the 1950s, no one was worried about inflation. Then late in the decade, the economy cooled down. That became a factor in the 1960 elections. Im not satisfied to have 50 of our steel mill capacity unused, or when the Unit
Activist theories of fiscal and Monetary Policy have dominated economics since the depression. By the mid1980s, we were doubting our ability to manage the economy. Stabilization policy are we still in control . Well investigate that with economic analyst richard gills help on this edition of economics usa. Im david schoumacher. For many years after the great depression, National Economic policys basic goal was minimizing unemployment. But the winter of 1982 saw 12 million unemployed. Many complained they were victims of a needlessly cruel government policy. Public enemy number one was inflation, and jobless workers were the war casualties. The battle cast new doubt on the governments ability to manage the economy or the wisdom of even trying. Why was stopping inflation so hard . The time has come for Decisive Action to break the vicious circle of spiraling prices and costs. Inflation is domestic enemy number one. Present high inflation threatens the Economic Security of our nation. Fro