Governments play an important role in society, providing stability and regulating the economy. They also manage public goods and promote social justice and sustainability. Moreover, governments work to mitigate global challenges such as climate change and pandemics. In doing so, they must balance societal expectations, economic pressures and democratic principles.
The most fundamental function of government policy is enforcing laws that define acceptable behaviour and settle disputes. Whether it is prohibiting certain types of drugs, setting standards for food safety or financial products, or establishing mechanisms for consumers to seek redress, policies establish the rules of the game that guide how individuals interact with one another.
One of the more controversial but vital roles of government is managing market failures and protecting consumers. In a competitive marketplace, businesses may be incentivized to cut corners or engage in unethical practices that harm people. Governments can help correct these market imperfections through regulation, stabilization and incentive programs.
Finally, governments also collect taxes and redistribute income to fund their operations and provide public goods. Through a range of tools such as income, property and corporation tax, they generate revenue that can then be used to support infrastructure, education or social welfare. Governments also often set a budget at the beginning of each legislative period and use their expenditure to demonstrate how they plan to spend their money over time. The affirmative team will typically focus on proving the magnitude of the problem, the need to address it and how their solution is better than the status quo.