Welfare reform
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Introduction
Students explore welfare reform as an aggregate supply policy. They investigate one welfare reform, evaluate its effectiveness and discuss the potential trade-offs between the promotion of economic efficiency and the protection of equity in the distribution of income.
Australian Curriculum or Syllabus
Topics:
- Microeconomic or aggregate supply policies
- Welfare reform as an aggregate supply policy
- The effects of welfare reform on aggregate supply, domestic macroeconomic goals and living standards
- Trade-offs between promotion of efficiency and protection of equity in the distribution of income
- AS curves and factors that cause shifts in the curve
See also:
Teacher resources
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Visualiser
Modelling welfare reform
Teacher notes
Modelling welfare reform
Student learning resources
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Explainer
Welfare reform
Briefing paper
Welfare reform
Suggested activity sequence
This sequence is intended as a framework to be modified and adapted by teachers to suit the needs of a class group.
- Introduce the topic by explaining that students will be investigating one welfare reform to discover how welfare reforms are an aggregate supply policy that governments use to improve the nation’s productive capacity.
- Students read the explainer. If required, encourage students to use the reading for meaning strategy as they read the explainer or to take notes using the Cornell note taking system.
- Discuss with students the different types of welfare reforms and their purpose (such as increase economic efficiency, promote equity and financial sustainability).
- Use the visualiser to model how welfare reform might grow Australia’s productive capacity. See the teacher’s notes for an explanation of how welfare reform (aggregate supply policy) will boost the sustainable level of national production while enjoying lower prices or cost inflation.
- Students conduct an investigation to prepare a briefing paper.
- Invite students to share their recommendations with the class.
- As a class discuss welfare reform. Possible prompts include:
- Should the government use welfare reform to increase the nation’s productive capacity? Why?
- What are the trade-offs?
- How can these trade-offs be mitigated?