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ECONOMIC ISSUES

Background and Context

These resources will help students develop a thorough understanding of Economic Issue topics 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

Updated February 2025

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

Current Issue Debates

Current Economic 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

Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) & Andy Levin (D-Mich.)
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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Opening the Economy during COVID-19

Videos | June 11, 2020

During this seminar, available on-demand, Close Up’s, Joe Geraghty discusses ‘Opening the Economy during COVID-19′ with Michael Carney, Senior Vice President, Emerging Issues with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.  Michael shares how the pandemic has impacted business and education and the logistical challenges communities face associated with the new regulations.   


Virus Outbreak Race

Racial Equity and COVID-19

Post | May 12, 2020

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is stressing our healthcare system, our economy, and parents trying to teach their children at home. It is also highlighting significant COVID-19  racial disparities in access to quality health care. According to an April survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, Black, and Hispanic people are more likely than white people […]


COVID-19 and the Economy

Videos | May 7, 2020

During this seminar, available on-demand, Close Up’s, Joe Geraghty discusses the impact of ‘COVID-19 on the Economy’ with Arlington County Board Member, Christian Dorsey.  Christian discuss the role of local and federal government in helping people and businesses affected by the pandemic and social distancing policies. 


Shelter in Place

Should States Continue to Shelter in Place or Begin to Reopen?

Post | April 28, 2020

As COVID-19 has spread across the country and the globe, most U.S. states have taken to issuing shelter-in-place orders to help “flatten the curve.” As of April 20, 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico had asked residents to stay at home. However, over the past two weeks, there has been an increase […]


Revisiting the Minimum Wage

Post | April 23, 2020

Inequality has been a central issue of the 2020 presidential campaign, with many of the candidates including economic and income equity as major elements of their message.1 The COVID-19 outbreak has also placed economic inequality in the spotlight. While many professionals and white-collar workers are able to work from home, employees in the service industry […]


Homeless COVID

Homeless People and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Post | March 26, 2020

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is affecting every American and people all over the world, but it does not affect everyone equally. The more than 500,000 Americans who are homeless are especially vulnerable—due to age, lack of access to health care, underlying medical conditions, and lack of access to information and news—and also pose a risk […]


Coronavirus

Public Health, Public Policy & Personal Responsibility: Coronavirus and the Common Good

Post | March 4, 2020

Public health officials first encountered COVID-19, popularly called the coronavirus, in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Thus far, the virus has infected over 89,000 people, killing more than 3,000.1 In the United States, there have been more than 100 cases in 15 states; at least six people have died, all of them in Washington state.2 […]


Universal Basic Income: Pipe Dream or Proactive Policy?

Post | February 28, 2020

On November 6, 2017, businessman Andrew Yang began a presidential campaign centered on a signature policy, Universal Basic Income (UBI).1 If put in place, this UBI or “Freedom Dividend” would give every adult American $1,000 a month, no questions asked.2 The idea captured some voters’ imaginations; although Yang ultimately suspended his campaign after a poor […]


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