Final answer:
From 1979 to 2010, real government purchases generally increased steadily. Government spending and taxes have also followed an upward trend over the last few decades, implying a larger government role in the economy. The U.S. unemployment rate fluctuated over the long term without a clear trend.
Step-by-step explanation:
For most of the 1979-2010 period, real government purchases have increased steadily. Considering the long-term trends in U.S. economic policy and data, it is evident that both government spending and taxes have generally followed an upward trend over the last few decades. Specifically, government purchases are part of government spending and have demonstrated a tendency to increase, barring specific shorter periods of reduction or stagnation.
While the overall U.S. unemployment rate has experienced ups and downs through different economic cycles, over the long term it has not shown a consistent trend upwards or downwards, instead it has fluctuated depending on various economic conditions.