Final Flashcards
what is the economy?
its the social institution that organize’s society’s production, distribution, and consumption f goods/services
3 sectors of the economy
primary
secondary
tertiary
primary sector of the economy
draws on raw materials from the environment
secondary sector of the economy
transforms raw materials into manufactured goods
tertiary sector of the economy
involves services rather than goods
ex) retail workers, advertising
according to Marx, the worker is alienated from what 4 things?
- the product of their labour
- their own labour
- their sense of humanity
- from others
points about labour and the worker: (3)
- the worker pouts his life into the object then it no longer belongs to him
- the greater the activity, the less he possess
- labour is external to the worker (it does not belong to his intrinsic nature)
ex) McDonald’s window workers.. examples of alienation? (5 points)
- internalization of grueling schedule (hectic when busy, cleaning when slow)
- workers hide behind a corporation, no personal touch
- creative exploration and self-development limited
- no socializing with others
- the needs and profit of the company come first
urbanization
refers to the concentration of a population into cities
how do cities reproduction class and racial inequalities? how is institutional discrimination evident in the social organizations of city spaces?
- labeling areas (ex. slums)
- building parks
- encouraging commercialism
what is Africville?
a black community in Halifax founded in the 19th century by African-American refugees (slaves)
what happened to Africville? what did the city do?
City of Halifax and various businesses started to invade it in 19th century
- demolition of homes for rail lines
- construction of industries
- residents were denied building permits ti improve their home
- requests for water and other services were denied
in 1964, Halifax did what to Africville?
phase it out by forcibly relocating its residents
it was an “intervention strategy to solve the social and economic problems of Africville residents”
what happens in relocation?
planed social change approved by and intiated by public agency
-involuntary relocation by residents
4 models of relocation:
- development model
- liberal-welfare model
- political model
- traditional model
development model of relocation:
econocentric, undemocratic
-the needs of the city are put before the people’s needs
liberal-welfare model of relocation:
similar to development model, but supports relocatees
political model of relocation:
aims to encourage citizen participation
traditional model of relocation:
planned social change at community level
“no place for home” by Cordon talks about what?
downtown eastside Vancouver
- 1 mile along Hastings Avenue
- one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods
- homeless, drug use, poverty, prostitution
- single room occupancy (SRO) hotels provide a cheap place to live
what is ‘the shift east’?
new developments in downtown east Hastings
- retail, boutiques, luxury lofts
- SRO prices are seen as valuable, prices increase
- current residents can no longer afford to live there
The Vancouver Agreement aims to do what?
turn problem hotels (mostly SROs) into safe, clean places to live
problem: rising price
gentrification
coined by British sociologist Ruth Glass in 1960
- referred to changes she observed in inner city London neighbourhoods
- shift in urban spaces
the Industrial Revolution brought on 5 new concepts:
- new sources of energy
- centralization of work in factories
- manufacturing and mass production
- specialization (repeating the same task)
- wage labour
pros of the Industrial Revolution: (2)
gradually raised the standard of living
-expanded the market
cons of the Industrial Revolution:
unequal benefits of factory jobs (factory owners rich while workers close to poverty)
-poor working conditionals, especially for women and children
post industrial economy
a productive system based on service work and high technology
-automated machinery
3 significant changes from the Industrial Revolution to post-industrialism
- from tangible products to ideas (computer programmers, graphic design, advertising, etc)
- from mechanical skills to literacy skills (knowing how to read, write and use a computer)
- from factories to almost anywhere (laptops, cellphones, etc. you can take work anywhere)
global economy
expanding activity that crosses national borders
global economy and its 5 major consequences:
- global division of labour
- more products must pass through more nations
- national Govs no longer control the economic activity that takes place
- a small number of businesses controls the vast amount of economic activity
- raises concerns about the rights and opportunities of workers
capitalism
an economic system in which natural resources and the means of production are privately owned
capitalism and its 3 key features:
- private ownership of property
- pursuit of personal profit
- competition and consumer choice
pros of capitalism:
- taxation and regulation agencies
- mandate minimum wage
- enforce safe workplace standards
- regulate corporate mergers
- support farmers
- administer welfare, pensions, and employment insurance
socialism
an economic system in which natural resources and the means of production are collectively owned
ex) China and Venezuela
socialism has 3 key features:
- collective ownership of property (housing available to all)
- pursuit of collective goals (work for the common good of all)
- government control of the economy (commercial advertising has a very small role)
communism
a hypothetical economic and political system in which all members are socially equal
-different than socialism, goes beyond it
welfare capitalism
an economic and political system that combines a mostly market-based economy wit extensive social welfare programs
- high taxation aimed at the rich to fund universal health care
ex) France, Sweden, Italy, Finland
state capitalism
an economic and political system in which companies are privately owned but co-operate with the government
- controlling foreign imports to help them compete i world market
ex) Japan, South Korea, Singapore
capitalism vs. socialism
capitalism has higher standard of living, freedom to pursue self-interest, higher GDP, but higher economic inequality
primary labour market (part of the dual labour market)
jobs that provide extensive benefits to workers
- careers
ex) medicine, engineering, law, upper management
secondary labour market (part of the dual labour market)
jobs that provide minimal benefits to workers
- low skill, blue collar assembly lines
- little job security
ex) low level service jobs, clerical positions
labour unions
worker organizations that seek to improve wages and working conditions through various strategies, including negotiations and strikes
- highest levels are in government or public administration (70%)
- union membership has declined since the 80’s
profession
a prestigious whit collar occupation that requires extensive formal education (usually a bachelor degree or more)
sociologists studying professions have assumed that an occupation is a profession to the extent that it demonstrates the following 4 characteristics:
- theoretical knowledge
- self regulating practice
- authority over clients
- community orientation rather than self interest
self employment
earning a living without working for a large organization
- highest levels in fishing, trapping, and agriculture
- 12% of Canadians
under employment
employment that uses less than a person’s full credentials, talents or abilities
- almost 50% of young workers with degrees are underemployed
- the glass ceiling for women
- highest risk for blacks and aboriginals
underground economy
economic activity involving income or the exchange of goods/services that is not reported to the government as required by the law
- small scale: babysitting, garage sale
- criminal activity: drug dealing, prostitution
- largest segment: “honest” people who fail to accurately file income taxes
the information Revolution is the increased use of computers. What are 5 changes with increased computer use?
- computers are de-skilling labour
- computers are making work more abstract (use symbols/programs) to preform tasks
- computers limit workplace interaction
- computers increased employers control over employees
- computers allow companies to relocate work
corporations
an organization with a legal existence including rights and liabilities apart from those of its members
conglomerate
a giant corporation composed of many small corporations
-linked through interlocking directories and owning each other’s stock
modernization theorists vs. dependency theorists
modernization- claims that MNCs raise the stadard of living in poor countries by offering jobs and advanced technology
dependency- claims that MNCs make global inequality worse by forcing poor countries to produce for the rich, making them more dependent
metropolis
a large city that dominates the surrounding area both socially and economically
-a population of at least 100,000 spread among one or more municipalities
suburbs
urban areas beyond the political boundaries of a city
megaloposis
a vast urban region containing a number of cities and their surrounding suburbs
ex) the area between Washington and Boston
Tonnies’ gemeinschaft
‘community’
a type of social organization in which people are closely tied by kinship and tradition
Tonnies’ gesellschaft
‘association’
a type of social organization in which people come together only on the basis of self-interest
-common with cities
-much is lost
Durkheim’s mechanical solidarity
traditional rural life
- social binds based on common sediments and shared moral values
- similar to Tonnie’s gemeinschaft
Durkheim’s organic solidarity
- social bonds based on specialization and interdependence
- similar to Tonnies’ gesellschaft but is more optimistic
- more individual choice, moral tolerance, privacy
Simmel’s blase attitude
to prevent being swept up in everything else in the city, people in urban centers develop a blase attitude in which they tune out much of what goes on around them
-detach as a survival strategy to focus on themselves and who matters to them
Park (Chicago School) view on cities
city is organized in a mosaic of distinctive ethnic communities, commercial centers, and industrial districts
- these ‘natural areas’ develop and change in relation to one another
- the city as a living organism
- cities permit greater social freedom
Wirth (Chicago School) view on cities
blended the ideas from Tonnie, Durkheim, Simmel and Park
- defined a city as a setting with a large, dense and socially diverse pop.
- limited social involvement with great social diversity= city people more tolerant
problem with all these outlooks on cities:
they overlook the effects of class, race and gender
urban ecology
the study of the link between the physical and social dimensions of cities
urban political economy
do not see the city as a living organism but rather as an area defined by mostly people with power (corporate leaders and political elite)
- better addresses the harsh realities of urban life
- limited to capitalist societies
the first urban revolution
began with the appearance of cities 10,000ya
- emerged in most regions in the world except NA and Antarctica
- low rise buildings, narrow winding streets, and personal social ties
the second urban revolution
began in about 1750 with the Industrial Revolution
- planners created wider regular streets to accomdate commerce
- emphasis on business and growth of cities made things more impersonal
the third urban revolution
happening right now in poor countries
