Chapter 7: Economic Inequality Flashcards
Social Stratification
Sociaty’s categorization of its people into groups based on socioeconomic factors like wealth, race, and education.
What percentage of Americans live under the poverty line?
11.4%
How does the US government measure absolute poverty?
Catering to individuals below the poverty line ($12,760/year)
How does the US government help combat relative poverty?
Progressive taxes, capital gains tax, etc..
Structural mobility
Changes occur because of structural changes in society, loss of a sector of jobs creating an employment gap.
Exchange mobility
Trade-off, a large shift in social classes.. hence “exchange”
How does Marx explain inequality in the “land of plenty”
Private property system monopolizes the means of production, class exploitation… explains a need for class consciouness in order to attain equity.
How does Weber explain inequality in the “land of plenty”
Weber believes there are 3 bases of stratification: property ownership, power(mainly political), and prestige(status) who determine such stratification.
How does C.W. Mills explain inequality in the “land of plenty”
There is one “power elite” that determines US policy making
How do Davis and Moore explain inequality in the “land of plenty”
A position recieves higher rewards if it requires a greater amount of human capital.. irreplaceability principle.. ignoring the politics of replacability such as labor unions.
Irreplaceability principle
A position recieves higher rewards when the position is more functionally important to society and requires more human capital (doctor, lawyer)
Class consciousness
Understanding that one is being opresses by the higher class and no longer indulging in such opression
Contradictory class locations
Often managers, when one is still lower than the capitalist but simultaneously opresses workers under them.
Proletariat vs bourgeoisie classes
Bourgeoisie class exploits the proletariat class, created by the monopolization of the means of production.
