Conceptual Understanding - SS.12E.3.a:
As the United States has evolved from an agrarian to an industrial to an information economy, the workplace requires a more highly skilled and educated workforce.

Conceptual Understanding - SS.12E.3.b:
The government’s evolving role in protecting property rights, regulating working conditions, protecting the right to bargain collectively, and reducing discrimination in the workplace has attempted to balance the power between workers and employers. This role shifts in response to government’s need to stimulate the economy balanced against the need to curb abusive business practices.

Conceptual Understanding - SS.12E.3.c:
The freedom of the United States economy encourages entrepreneurialism. This is an important factor behind economic growth that can lead to intended consequences (e.g., growth, competition, innovation, improved standard of living, productivity, specialization, trade, outsourcing, class mobility, positive externalities) and unintended consequences (e.g., recession, depression, trade, unemployment, outsourcing, generational poverty, income inequality, the challenges of class mobility, negative externalities.).

Conceptual Understanding - SS.12E.3.d:
A degree of regulation, oversight, or government control is necessary in some markets to ensure free and fair competition and to limit unintended consequences of American capitalism. Government attempts to protect the worker, ensure property rights, and the marketplace as well as to promote income equality and social mobility have had varied results.

Conceptual Understanding - SS.12E.3.e:
The degree to which economic inequality reflects social, political, or economic injustices versus individual choices is hotly debated. The role that the government should play in decreasing this gap, including the variety of government programs designed to combat poverty, is debated as well.