KI 3b: Economic Change

Question 1

What methods does the UK Government employ to tackle socio-economic inequalities?

Answer 1

• Taxation (e.g. income tax taxing rich more than poor, and some essential items such as food may be exempt)
• Subsidies (e.g. free school meals, old people, single parents, unemployment etc)
• Planning (priority housing upgrades to poorest areas)
• Law (e.g. outlawing discrimination on racial, ethnic, gender and age criteria for employment, and minimum wage legislation)
• Education (e.g. funding for schools, and education programmes targeted at poorest groups)

Question 2

What is the largest sector for government spending as of 2016?

Answer 2

Pensions - 20%

Question 3

How has an ageing population impacted government spending?

Answer 3

Pension spending in the last dozen years has nearly doubled.