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ECONOMIC ISSUES

Background and Context

These resources will help students develop a thorough understanding of Economic Issues and make connections between historical events, current conversations, and current policy proposals surrounding the issues. This section includes all of the context and content previously included in Close Up’s public policy chapters.  

 

U.S. Economic Policy in Historical Context

How has Economic policy changed throughout our history? Learn More >

U.S. Economic Policy in Current Context

What is current Economic policy? Learn More >

Economy and Labor: Deliberating Priorities

Available for Middle & High School

What, if anything, should the government do to reform the economy? Learn More >

Current Issue Debates

Current Issue Debates are framed by a central question and followed by historical context, an overview of both sides of the topic, and discussion questions to facilitate deliberation in the classroom.

 

Homelessness Deliberation

Available for Middle & High School

How should governments work to address the homelessness crisis? Learn More >

Workers’ Rights

Available for Middle & High School

Should Congress raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour? Learn More >

Guaranteed Minimum Income

Available for Middle & High School

Should the government provide a guaranteed minimum income to Americans in times of economic crisis? Learn More >

Wealth Tax

Available for Middle & High School

Should the United States implement a wealth tax? Learn More >

Housing First and Homelessness

Available for Middle & High School

Should governments use a housing-first approach to combat homelessness? Learn More >

Inflation

What should the government do to combat inflation? Learn More >

Videos from Policy Makers

Brought to you by ASP HOMEROOM, through a collaboration between Close Up Foundation and A Starting Point, these supplemental videos are an introduction to policy areas that provide an opportunity for students to hear different perspectives directly from lawmakers.

 

Labor Unions

Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) & Congressman Andy Levin (D-MI)
May 26, 2021

Homelessness in California

Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) & Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) 
May 14, 2021

Tax Policy & Proposals

Congressmen Don Beyer (D-VA) & Blake Moore (R-UT)
April 15, 2021

Lesson Plans

These ready-to-use lesson plans can be utilized in conjunction with any of our resources to enhance the quality of student discourse in the classroom. Our supplemental Civic Readiness Guide provides a recommended lesson plan sequence for using our Current Issues resources.

 

Additional & Archived Resources on Economic Issues

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A New Rule Results in Cost-Of-Living Reimbursement for House Members

Post | January 18, 2023

An under-the-radar rule change proposed by Democrats in the House of Representatives in the waning days of 117th Congress could potentially increase members’ yearly compensation. The provision, approved by the House Administration Committee, would allow reimbursement for a number of living expenses, including lodging, food, and travel in Washington, D.C. How Much Do Members of […]


Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness: Too Much, Not Enough, Just Right, or Beyond the President’s Authority?

Post | October 25, 2022

In August, President Joe Biden’s administration announced a student loan forgiveness plan which would cancel up to $10,000 in debt for most borrowers and up to $20,000 for some borrowers.1 Current federal student loan borrowers who earn less than $125,000 per year (less than $250,000 per household) can have up to $10,000 forgiven and those […]


A Renewed Labor Movement?

Post | September 14, 2022

The year 2022 has seen a historic surge in labor organizing and union activity. While union organizing at Starbucks and Amazon has garnered the most media attention, the US labor rights movement has also been active on university campuses, at newspapers and other publishers, and in the high-tech industry at Google, Microsoft, Apple, and other […]


Ukraine and the 2022 State of the Union Address

Post | March 10, 2022

On March 1, 2022, President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address. He hit on several major topics that have impacted the nation over the last year. This post will focus on the president’s discussion of the most recent and pressing global issue: the Russian invasion of Ukraine. READ MORE: The Russian […]


Should Members of Congress Be Banned from Trading Stocks?

Post | February 15, 2022

Last month, Senators Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., introduced the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, a reform bill that would require members of Congress to divest their stock market investments or face fines totaling the entire amount of their congressional salary.1 So, should members of Congress be allowed to trade stocks? According to […]


The Great Resignation

Post | January 13, 2022

Across the United States, towns and cities are flooded with “Help Wanted” signs on business doors. The U.S. job market has seen its share of ups and downs over the last two years, but 2021 was a year of record-breaking highs in many categories. The two most important: record-breaking quits and record-breaking new job openings. […]


Build Back Better Stalls, Maybe for Good

Post | January 4, 2022

Already facing the enormous challenge of addressing spiking cases of COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant, President Joe Biden’s administration was presented with a new challenge when Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced that he would not support the $2 trillion spending plan known as Build Back Better Bill. Citing concerns over the level of spending […]


CNN/KKTV 1

The Infrastructure Bill: What It Includes and What Remains To Be Done

Post | November 22, 2021

On November 15th, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The bill represents the culmination of months of negotiations between House Democrats and Republicans as well as within the two parties. The goal of this US infrastructure bill is to significantly revitalize and modernize American infrastructure – the various systems, equipment, and […]


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