Respuesta :
Answer:The US economy faces numerous social problems. At the root of these problems is poverty. Homelessness, unemployment, and crime generally occur among the poorer sections of society. However, some social problems, such as drug abuse, exist in all classes of society. All social problems affect the economic status of the people living in that society. Let’s look at the interrelationships of some social and economic problems in the United States.
Illegal immigration: Illegal immigration is a major social issue today. The government estimates that approximately 11 million people in the United States are illegal immigrants. The problem with illegal immigrants is that they work in low-skilled jobs and do not earn enough income to pay taxes to cover the government benefits they would obtain as citizens. If they receive amnesty, as proposed in the immigration reform bill, these illegal immigrants would receive all welfare and medical benefits offered by the government, which would increase the government’s expenses.
While those promoting amnesty for illegal immigrants contend that the kinds of jobs performed by illegal immigrants are plentiful, those who oppose a mass amnesty cite studies that show that the reality is quite different. Research done by the Center for Immigration Studies shows that close to half of unemployed American citizens only have up to a high school education. Illegal immigrants may be competing directly with these American citizens for jobs. However, those promoting amnesty feel that it will resolve the illegal immigration issue. They point to the practical impossibility of deporting 11 million people, declaring that bringing these people into the mainstream of American life will help the economy in the long term.
Drug abuse: Another social issue facing the United States is drug abuse. This social problem may cause a number of consequences. From an economic perspective, we can look at three outcomes: criminal behavior, health problems, and reduced productivity. The criminal nature of this social problem means that many who receive convictions for drug use will go to prison. It also incurs expenses: costs incurred because of the criminal nature of drug abuse stem from the criminal justice system, and costs incurred by victims of crimes committed by drug abusers.
Drug abuse begins with experimentation, moves to recreational use, and ultimately shifts to dependency. At the stage of dependency, health issues may surface that require medical care. Health costs include hospitalization, emergency care, and insurance costs. Drug use impairs a person’s physical and mental faculties. This may result in loss of productivity due to illness or hospitalization. Productivity loss also includes the loss suffered by the victims of any crimes committed by drug users. Productivity costs include costs incurred due to loss of labor. According to a 2011 report of the US Department of Justice, which based its research on data from 2007, the total cost of illicit drug use amounts to $193 billion. A large amount of this cost is due to loss of productivity.
Economic status and health care: A person’s economic status affects the person’s health in three ways. It determines the quality of health care the person is likely to receive, the type of environment the person lives in and any subsequent health hazards, and the person’s attitude toward health. Studies show that people who have not completed high school are more likely not to have health insurance. These people will receive less medical care and will most likely not receive screening for early detection of diseases.
People from a lower economic status tend to live in areas with cheaper housing. These areas are often worse off in terms of environmental pollution because businesses situate many factories and waste disposal plants in these areas. This further puts the health of individuals residing in these areas at risk. Finally, economically disadvantaged people are often hesitant to seek medical help for screening, pre-diagnosis, or even at the initial stages of an onset of illness for fear of medical costs. Delays in obtaining medical help often make an illness worse, which then requires healthcare professionals to render additional expensive medical aid to cure the illness.
From the above examples, we can clearly see that social and economic issues have a close relationship. Social issues often have major economic implications for the individual and society. Moreover, economic problems often cause major social issues, as seen in the example of health care.
Straight from PLATO
