The Public Sector

The public sector is the part of the economy that encompases public services and enterprises. Generally speaking, these services are provided by the government and are publically funded. Such services include telecommunications, electrical grids, police, military, public education, some aspects of healthcare, and infrastructure such as bridges, roads, water supply, tunnels, sewers, and public transit. These services are usually provided to payers and non-payers alike, and stand to benefit society as a whole, and are typically self-financed or non-profits.

The Public Sector’s Role

The public sector in The United States of America exists for several reasons, most of which derived from a necessity for stability and economic growth. Public services such as education, the postal system, military and infrastructure upkeep are services that benefit all of society, and would be difficult to assign to private developers without some inherent bias or aim to profit.

In many states, the government acts as a regulator and sets up a framework for private enterprises to ensure that businesses serve the best interests of the people. These regulations are in place to make sure these companies can earn a reasonable profit without dramatically raising prices, as the public depends on their services. The public sector also provides a means of economic stability and growth. By adjusting tax rates, money supply and use of credit, branches of government can attempt to control extreme economic booms and depressions. Finally, the government provides direct assistance to those that cannot provide for themselves.

SCHOLARSHIP BACKGROUND

Why it’s important to have this generation’s college students voice out and provide their input regarding the public sector.

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1. Millenials who gain employment in the public sector bring with them progressive perspectives and expectations which they expect their employers to respect.
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2. Being involved with public works projects is no longer limited to working with government organizations, meaning those interested in serving the public often have better options than working for their local municipality. Working for the public sector is still the best place to have an influence on policy, so this shift could harm future legislation.
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3. The divide between public and private sectors is blurring, leading to students focusing more on an issue or a policy rather than a role or profession. Current trends indicate that students try to find the position, public or private, that helps them serve their chosen cause to the greatest degree.
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4. The public sector and their regulations are taking increasingly more concessions. The most recent example is the overturning of the FCCs guidelines on net neutrality. The Obama era strengthening of healthcare has also come under attack. Either way the changes are viewed, these staples of the public sector are being defunded and changed in favor of few regulations. This is been the trend since the 1980s.
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5. Because these issues involve the facets of communication, information, benefits and education of the younger generations, it is important for millennials to care about the role they play in the public sector, as these represent the services they will inherit once the older generation passes.