Georgia State University (GSU) POLS 2401 Global Issues Exam 1 Practice

The main idea is that how a government allocates its budget creates social costs when more goes to military spending at the expense of social programs. When defense money takes a larger share of resources, funds that could support health care, education, and welfare are diverted or reduced, leading to weaker social services and broader social consequences like slower human development and greater inequality. The statement that in recent years countries have spent a larger percentage on military spending than on social programs best captures this trade-off and its impact on society. The other options either imply a universal rise in social programs alongside military spending, reference an unrelated statistic, or claim debt reduction from military spending—none of which describe the social costs tied to prioritizing defense over social welfare.