homework encyclopedia

308 Society and Beliefs

A state is a territory ruled by a single government, and

which is not subject to another power. A modern state

has its own government, armed forces, and a civil service,

which carries out the work of the government. The state

generally manages the police and other emergency

services, the departments of health, education, and

. WELFARE. It also has a. CENTRAL BANK.

WHO WORKS FOR THE STATE?

A state employs a large workforce of civil servants to carry out its many functions.

These state employees include police officers, health inspectors, teachers, and

office workers. Together, they represent a large part of the total workforce. In

the UK, for example, 20 per cent of all workers are employed by the state.

HOW DOES A STATE PAY FOR ITS SERVICES?

Each year, a government decides how much money

the state will need to pay for its public services.

Most of this is raised via a. TAX on its citizens

and businesses, but states can also charge for

services for example, through road tolls. If a state

gets into debt, it may also borrow money from

private corporations or from wealthier nations

or from the International Monetary Fund, an

organization which oversees the world’s

financial systems.

WHY ARE STATES FORMED?

States were first created many thousands of years ago, mainly to fight

wars and defend territory. Today, states do more than this. They provide

a form of central control for public services, and look after the welfare

of their citizens.

Germany 10,067 (in US$)

Italy 9,189

United Kingdom 9,037

United States 5,908

Japan 5,633

Canada 5,124

France 4,060

Russian Federation 300

4 STATE DEPARTMENT

In the Russian

Federation, the state has

a say in many aspects of

society. Mavny civil

servants work to carry

out government policy

this Ministry of Foreign

Affairs in Moscow.

1 ARMED FORCES

The state pays to staff and equip its armed forces. This American F-22

Raptor jet cost around 70 billion US dollars to design. Although made

by a private company, the jet could not be built without state money.

The State

1 TRANSPORTATION

Roads and bridges are complicated and expensive to build. States pay

for transport networks, such as this road system in Shanghai, China, to

improve communications and to encourage more economic activity.

1 ARTS

The Sydney Opera House in Australia was built with state money. States

give money to support the arts – especially orchestras, opera and ballet

companies, theatre groups, and museums – as symbols of national pride.

1 EDUCATION

States have funded education, from nursery schools to universities, since

the 19th century. Investment in education results in a better-educated

society, which in turn creates steady economic growth for the state.

The hammer and sickle was the official

symbol of the former Soviet Union

TOP 8 INDUSTRIALIZED STATES: ANNUAL STATE SPENDING PER CITIZEN

the state