Income Inequality 3

Question 1

Natural selection explanation

Answer 1

[evolutionary focus] unhealthy, disabled, [older] citizens fall down the social gradient while those who are young and healthy rise upwards [survival of the fittest]

Question 2

Behavioural explanation

Answer 2

[psychological focus] individuals who are unthinking, reckless, irresponsible develop high risk unhealthy life styles [hence economic failure and poor health are consequences of poor decision making]

Question 3

Structural explanation

Answer 3

[social environmental focus] emphasises role of economics and policy in determining social environments that determine life style, life opportunities and health. [for example, level of homelessness is determined by affordable housing and quality of health tied to access and affordability of health care]

Question 4

Attribution theory

Answer 4

actions/solutions logically are going to be tied to whichever is the cause

Question 5

Qualitative research poverty

Answer 5

interviewed lower class working people and high income professional people

Question 6

Lower class (5)

Answer 6

1) denied any difference in health status; 2) reluctantly conceded money would purchase better health care; 3) Defined health as absence of disease and ability to work; 4) Tied health to eating correct foods, balanced diet; 5) Overall focus on [their own] physical/biological causes [external attributions]

Question 7

Upper class (4)

Answer 7

1) Readily accepted there was a health differential; 2) Defined health as feeling good and having enough energy to enjoy life [especially leisure/non-work]; 3) Attributed poor health in lower classes to low job satisfaction, low wages, poor diet and presence of work/neighbourhood hazards; 4) Overall focus on others [the poor] psychological and person-centred factors [external attributions]

Question 8

Implications for change

Answer 8

do external attributions lead to change

Question 9

Define income inequality

Answer 9

percentage of income [wealth] that is owned by the top 20% of income earners

Question 10

Countries with highest income inequality

Answer 10

Singapore; USA; Portugal; UK; Australia; New Zealand

Question 11

Countries with lowest income inequality (lowest to highest)

Answer 11

Japan; Finland; Norway; Sweden; Denmark

Question 12

Australia’s historical attempts to change income inequality

Answer 12

Late 1940s to late 1970s developed social welfare agenda including Universal health care; 1980s-1990s created mixed health care model (by increasing choice began to change health equality); 2000 onward programs/policies attempting to reduce social (and thus health) inequalities including closing the gap

Question 13

Current

Answer 13

government policy to reduce tax for highest income earners to stimulate economy (reversal)

Question 14

What kind of trend in income inequality is there for Australia

Answer 14

upward trend over time in income inequality (Gini co-efficient) in Australia

Question 15

Implication

Answer 15

income inequality is growing, is this going to have a negative impact on Australians in the future?