Chapter 11

Question 1

Gini Coefficients

Answer 1

measure of how equally, or unequally wealth is distributed in a given population

Question 2

How is wealth distributed?

Answer 2

It is finite and can be widely distributed or concentrated

Question 3

High Gini Coefficient=

Answer 3

greater inequality

Question 4

Social Stratification

Answer 4

division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy, which impacts how resources are allocated in society, every society has one

Question 5

Characteristics of Social Stratification

Answer 5

characteristic of society, not reflection of individual differences, persists over generations because people inherit social class, maintained through beliefs widely shared through society

Question 6

Weber’s Dimensions of Social Stratification

Answer 6

social class (wealth), status (prestige), and power

Question 7

Meritocracy

Answer 7

a political system where economic goods/ political power are distributed to people based on talent, effort, and achievement, and advancement is based on performance, has a high social mobility

Question 8

Social Mobility

Answer 8

ability/inability of social members to change their position in the social hierarchy

Question 9

Intergenerational Social Mobility

Answer 9

changes between generations

Question 10

Intragenerational Social Mobility

Answer 10

changes within generations

Question 11

Economic Inequality

Answer 11

politically charged issue where income distribution in the U.S. is heavily skewed

Question 12

Wealth Inequality

Answer 12

much worse than economic inequality because great wealth equates to advantages like freedom and autonomy

Question 13

Wealthy people have access to many forms of power and control, such as…

Answer 13

charities/philanthropic organizations, can manipulate the political sphere, and use the money to directly gain control of the political office

Question 14

Why is wealth/ lack of wealth self-perpetuated?

Answer 14

it is passed from one generation to another

Question 15

Poverty

Answer 15

disparity between rich and poor is considered moral problem by many

Question 16

Social forces create and perpetuate poverty for what 3 reasons?

Answer 16

poverty is built into the capitalist system, competition between social classes motivates those with power to get more power, and government actions to reduce poverty are generally limited by policy and American ideology (hard success)

Question 17

Absolute Poverty

Answer 17

people don’t have enough to survive - objective

Question 18

Relative Poverty

Answer 18

people think that they are poor relative to others -subjective

Question 19

Poverty Line

Answer 19

households who fall below a specific threshold are considered to not have enough to survive

Question 20

How is the poverty line calculated?

Answer 20

Social Security Administration multiplies the cost of a “nutritionally adequate food plan” by 3

Question 21

Feminization of Poverty

Answer 21

women are more likely to be in poverty because they are more likely to live alone, have lower salaries and more kids are born to unmarried women

Question 22

High-Income Countries

Answer 22

per capita income of $12,056, mostly in the global north, 81 nations

Question 23

Middle-Income Countries

Answer 23

per capita income of $12,055 - $996, 103 nations

Question 24

Low-Income Countries

Answer 24

per capita income below $996, largely agrarian and low-level industry, 34 nations

Question 25

Other Global Inequalities

Answer 25

global digital divide, global health inequality, gender stratification

Question 26

The race to the bottom

Answer 26

phenomenon of nations reducing regulations, taxes and wages to attract international business

Question 27

Feudalism

Answer 27

economic system based on agriculture where landlords are entitled to receive the products of laborers, the biggest source of inequality before the Industrial revolution

Question 28

Welfare State

Answer 28

bundle of programs that provide insurance and assistance for people like elderly, disabled or in poverty

Question 29

High-End Inequality

Answer 29

wealthiest people can use their wealth to become even more wealthy, pulling away from everyone else in the process

Question 30

Classes consist of people who…

Answer 30

have conflicting economic interests with other classes, share similar life chances, have similar attitudes, and have the same potential to engage in collective action

Question 31

Marx and Engels Ideology

Answer 31

in capitalist society, the most important class distinction was between business owners (bourgeoisie) and workers (proletariat)

Question 32

socioeconomic status (SES)

Answer 32

broad definition of someone’s social class based on components such as education, income, and job

Question 33

Erickson - Goldthorpe Class Scheme

Answer 33

salariat/service class, routine nonmanual workers, bourgeoise/self-employed, farm owners, skilled workers/supervisors, nonskilled workers, and farm laborers

Question 34

Factors Increasing Inequality

Answer 34

technology, decline of manufacturing, globalization, government policies

Question 35

Progress Tax System

Answer 35

the more you earn, the more you pay - big impact on inequality in U.S.

Question 36

Inequality of Opportunity

Answer 36

the ways inequality shapes opportunities for kids and young adults to maximize their potential

Question 37

Ascription

Answer 37

someone is born into their priviledges

Question 38

Gini Coefficient doesn’t tell us what?

Answer 38

the overall standard of living

Question 39

Human Developmental Index

Answer 39

life expectancy, average income, education level - tells us the overall standard of living, high # = high standard of living

Question 40

Social Class

Answer 40

all of someone’s economic assets - net worth

Question 40

Status

Answer 40

respect or lack of what you receive from your community

Question 41

Prestige

Answer 41

usually measured by occupation