SPEA-V185 Exam 3 Study Guide Rated 100% Correct!!

Scientific Method for Social Science - Usually has four basic components -Theory -Operationalization -Observation -Analysis Dependent Variable - A factor/event/outcome that we want to explain Independent Variable - Causes/explanations/factors that we think are important in driving the outcomes/dependent variables Normative Statement - Describes the way the world should or is desired to be Empirical Statement - Describes the state of the world based on observations and evidence Federal Government - Has fewer spending categories. Tends to focus more on national security, defense, and entitlement programs State Government - Have considerable policymaking powers and authorities in the areas such as criminal justice, healthcare, education, social welfare, infrastructure, and transportation Play a major brokering role as the intermediate level between federal and local governments Local Government - Tend to focus on the direct delivery of goods/services Indirect Tool (of administration) - -Examples include grants, contracts, regulations, tax breaks (tax expenditures), and loan programs-Has been a change in government tools over recent decades by the government in that the use of indirect tools has significantly increased Market/Political Hierarchy - Two basic ways to organize an economy to provide goods/services; The U.S. organizes its economy in a mix way (as do most other nations) Public Good - Two defining features if public goods -Non-excludable -Non-rivalrous Free Rider - Members enjoy the collective good without making contributions Externality - Happens when one person's actions negatively/positively affect the well-being of bystanders who are not part to a market transaction Market Failure - Information asymmetry problems, dysfunctional incentive structure, externalities and issues caused by free-riders can cause market failures Public Failure - Occurs when political institutions are unable to or are unwilling to translate public opinion into public policies Publicness - -According to Barry Bozeman's book titled "All Organizations are Public", an organization can be defined as a function of two dimensions: political authority and economic authority