Students interested in pursuing a career in public service typically have a keen interest in the social policy issues facing their communities and society as a whole. Political campaigns can often highlight the most important problems as identified by voters. Research institutions and think tanks can also offer insights into emerging social issues and proposed solutions for these challenges.
Here are five of the most important social policy issues currently facing the United States.
Income Inequality and Economic Growth
The growing gap between the haves and the have-nots has been a topic of discussion among economists for a number of years. The 2013 publication of Thomas Piketty’s “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” was a turning point for this issue, however, as the book predicted future instability as a result of extreme concentration of wealth among a few elites in the U.S. and around the world. Finding ways to level the playing field for workers in the modern economy may provide some degree of relief for these individuals and their families. A more equitable way to distribute wealth within society is required, however, to reduce the sense of economic injustice among low-income and middle-class families.
Education
According to a paper published in December 2015 by the Brookings Institution, education is a key pillar in support of the American Dream. As college tuition continues to climb and the cost of quality early childhood education increases, however, many families are unable to provide their children with these critical component for success in the U.S. Increasing the available funding for Head Start and other early childhood educational programs can provide a solid footing for lower income children in the academic world. Additionally, finding ways to make college more affordable can expand the available educational options for children in middle-class families.
Health Care Policy
Debate regarding single-payer health care plans and free-market options for consumers has been a part of American discourse since before Medicaid and Medicare were passed in 1965. The Affordable Care Act of 2010, better known as ObamaCare, represents a compromise between the two sides of the national argument about health care. Numerous proposals have been discussed to address the growing cost of medical services and pharmaceutical products. Students interested in pursuing job opportunities in the health sciences or public service fields should keep a close eye on how the issue evolves during the course of their academic and professional careers.
Climate Change
Warm winters, scorching hot summers and changes in extreme weather patterns have all been attributed to the effects of climate change. If these trends continue, some areas of the United States may become less desirable for habitation within the next 50 years. According to scientists at NASA, 97 percent of publishing climatologists believe that temperatures on Earth are on the rise. If these scientists are correct in their assessments of the current situation, finding ways to address both the causes and the effects of climate change will become increasingly important to ensure economic stability and to provide adequate shelter for affected families and communities at home and around the world.
Immigration
Questions about legal and illegal immigration to the United States have dominated a number of recent political contests. Immigration may represent a significant divisive force in the U.S. On one side, workers stuck in low-paying, stagnant industries may resent the competition of legal and illegal immigrants alike for job opportunities. Others point to the exploitation of undocumented workers and the American promise of a better life for the poor and downtrodden. Discussions of amnesty for those already here and of physical barriers between the U.S. and other countries are likely to continue for the foreseeable future thanks to the strong emotional context that these debates hold for many Americans.
The free flow of information on the Internet will prove useful for students of history, social science and politics in monitoring these important policy issues. Graduates with degrees in fields related to these topics will likely enjoy access to increased job opportunities and greater demand for their skills and knowledge in the modern employment marketplace.
See also: Top 10 Online Health and Human Services Degree Programs – Bachelor’s
