|
|
Test your assumptions underlying public policy
in Maine. 1. Percent of the Maine population that are State employees: a) 1-4% b) 5-10% c) 11-15% d) 16-20% e) over 20% 2. Number of State Employees in Fiscal Year 2004 compared to the number in 1980: a) up 2,000 b) up 1,000 c) up 500 d) up 100 e) down 100 3. Average amount of the State Budget's General Fund obtained from corporate taxes, 1982-2002: a) 5% b) 10% c) 15% d) 20% e) 25% 4. Percent of the State's 2003 General Fund expenditures that went to relieve local property taxes as aid to education: a) 10% b) 15% c) 20% d) 25% e) 30% 5. Change in the rate of abortions per 1,000 live births in 2000 compared to 1978: a) up 50% b) up 25% c) unchanged d) down 25% e) down 50% 6. Trend of Maine students' math scores on SAT tests, compared to all students, from 1980 through 2003: a) started higher, but has dropped consistently b) started lower, but has improved consistently c) started higher, and remained about the same d) started lower, and remained about the same 7. Growth of personal income in Maine, 1980-2002, compared to the US and to New England: a) increased less than both b) increased more than both c) increased faster than New England but less than the US d) increased faster than the US but less than New England e) decreased while New England and the US increased Answers to Conventional Wisdom Quiz 1. a) Actually the proportion is about 1%, declining from 1.4% in 1980; the proportion paid by Maine taxes (from the General Fund) is only 1/2 of one percent,. 2. e) The 14,418 on record in FY2004 is 9% less than the 1980 total of 15,851. 3. a) In 1982 it was 5.4%; in 2002 is was 3.6%. 4. e) This is the best choice; actually 28% was budgeted for 2004 and 2005. 5. d) Is the best choice; the decline from 252 per 1,000 to 195 per 1,000 represents a drop of 22.6%. 6. a) In 1980 Maine students outranked all students by 1 point; in 1994 they lagged by 16 points, in 2003 they lagged by 18 points 7. d) Maine personal income since 1980 Maine has lagged even further behind New England, moving from 79% to 74%. However, it has closed the gap nationally, increasing from 83% to 90% of the national average.
|