Government, Economy, and Power Structures (9A) Practice Test

A country shifts from defined-benefit pensions to defined-contribution retirement accounts. Higher-income workers are more likely to have continuous formal employment and access to financial advising, while lower-income workers have intermittent employment and higher fees. From a life-course perspective and cumulative advantage theory, what is the most plausible effect on inequality among older adults?

A municipal government contracts a private firm to manage public housing maintenance under a performance-based agreement. After privatization, average repair times decrease, but tenant advocacy groups report that complaints from non–English-speaking residents are less likely to be logged and resolved. Considering bureaucratic power, street-level discretion, and social closure, which outcome is most likely?