Social Inequality and How It Can Be Measured

Question 1

Define standard of living

Answer 1

Access to services and goods including basic necessities like food, water and housing

Question 2

Quality of life is…….? Give examples of indicators of quality of life

Answer 2

The extent to which people’s needs and desires are met.
% on FSM
Quality of housing
Level of income

Question 3

Why does a rise in income not necessarily cause an improved quality of life?

Answer 3

Longer hrs at work, a longer commute or poor air quality may result in higher incomes but lower quality of life

Question 4

Factors measuring social inequality: income

Answer 4

Below the global poverty line ($1.90/day) people cannot afford basic necessities

Households below average income (HBAI) measures relative poverty in UK. 14 million fall below this threshold

Question 5

Factors measuring social inequality: housing

Answer 5

Housing tenure= are you an owner occupier? Do you rent from a landlord? Mortgage?

Charities provide subsidised accomodation.

Squatter settlements

Question 6

Factors measuring social inequality: education

Answer 6

Literacy rates can measure contrasts between different regions of the world

Children can gain skills from formal education or informal education learning agricultural skills

Question 7

Factors measuring social inequality: healthcare

Answer 7

No. doctors per 1000 can help to show health inequality at a global scale

‘Postcode lottery’ depending on where you live, the level of medical provision from the NHS varies

Access to clean water, effective sanitation reduces risk of communicable diseases

Question 8

Factors measuring social inequality: employment

Answer 8

A lot of countries don’t take account of levels of employment.

Informal sector jobs in LIDCs and EDCs employ millions but there is very little protection for workers and people still earn small wages