“Entitlement programs” of the federal government are defined as “programs that provide benefit payments for individuals whose eligibility is determined by law.” Because the criteria for eligibility...

“Entitlement programs” of the federal government are defined as “programs that provide benefit payments for individuals whose eligibility is determined by law.” Because the criteria for eligibility are established by existing law, expenditures are not controlled by the process of congressional appropriation.

(a) Would you say that the beneficiaries of entitlement programs receive income because of certain property rights?

(b) The criteria for some entitlement programs are outside the range of the beneficiaries’ choice: Payments based on age are an example, as are veterans’ benefits. Other programs use criteria that persons can more or less choose to satisfy. Would you expect the law of demand to affect the rate at which expenditures increase in this second category?