The Role of the Government in the Economy

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The appropriate role of government in the economy consists of six major functions of interventions in the markets economy. Governments provide the legal and social framework, maintain competition, provide public goods and services, national defense, income and social welfare, correct for externalities, and stabilize the economy. The government also provides polices that help support the functioning of markets and policies to correct situations when the market fails. As well as, guiding the overall pace of economic activity, attempting to maintain steady growth, high levels of employment, and price stability. By applying the fiscal policy which adjusts spending and tax rates or monetary policy which manage the money supply and control the use of credit, it can slow down or speed up the economy's rate of growth in the process, affecting the level of prices and employment to increase or decrease. Governments provide the legal and social framework in market economies by establishing and protecting the rights to private property and to the economic gains derived from the use of that property. The government's protection of private property extends to land, factories, stores, as well as intellectual property. Intellectual properties are protected by exclusive rights, called copyrights, to protect such things as books, music, films, and computer software programs, etc; or patents, protect other types of inventions, designs, products, and manufacturing processes. These exclusive issued rights give the holders the rights to sell or market their products and creations for a specified period of time. National defense being another example where the role of government is indispensable, because people do not pay for each unit the... ... middle of paper ... ...llow the “invisible hand” to guide everyone in their economic endeavors, create the greatest good for the greatest number of people, and generate economic growth. Smith also delved into the dynamics of the labor market, wealth accumulation, and productivity growth. His work was later discovered to be precise, after the Great depression took place allowing the governments interference by reducing taxes and increasing governments spending. Over all the appropriate role of government has always been an argument discussing whether it is actually helping our economy or is the government gaining too much power over the markets. However the economy could not prosper without the actions imposed to assist in diffusing the power over the markets and regulating as well as enforcing the law in order for things to done in a beneficial way to both the consumers and the markets.

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