The government intervention to discuss: Unemployment compensation

Questions:

--What would be arguments for this government intervention as opposed to arguments for market-based solutions?

--Who has been helped and who has been hurt by the government intervention?

--What externalities and unintended consequences of such an intervention?

--Would cost of this intervention as a share of GDP or the number of participants increase, decrease, or vary with the state of the economy, based on the cost trend (or number of participants) since its inception or since 2000?

--What are some credible economists' opinions on the success or failure of the intervention that you chose in achieving its objectives?

--Is it recommended that the program be continued as is, discontinued, or modified based on your conclusions? Why or why not?