Socio-economics Flashcards
What are some causes of economic inequality in SA?
Differences in wealth. 12 million people didn’t have reasonable access to resources. Apartheid which discriminated against black people. This included the passing of laws such as:
1) The land act - divided areas into white and African areas.
2) Bantu Authorities Act - changed certain less economically successful areas of SA into African areas called homelands.
3) the Group Areas Act of 1966 stated that different races groups needed to live in different areas.
4) the Bantu Education Act of 1953 created a separate Black education department which taught a curriculum and skills designed for developing low-level workers.
Name four key elements of the inequality/poverty cycle
Lack of money - inadequate education - limited skills - few work opportunities.
What is the difference between a rural and an urban area?
Not very many people live in rural areas and there is limited infrastructure, whereas in urban areas, there are many people and a great deal of infrastructure.
What are some of the challenges associated with urban areas?
1) High cost of living: it’s often expensive to live in the city: rent, accommodation, food, transport. Taxes.
2) Pollution: addicting harmful waste materials to the air, water or soil; also noise pollution from cars, airplanes and machines.
3) Influx of people: many people come to cities seeking employment, making cities more populated.
4) Traffic congestion: as population increases, roads leading in and out of the cities become congested. Often the roads were not designed for as many people when they were built.
What are the socio-economic challenges in rural areas?
1) Lack of infrastructure: underdeveloped, roads often in bad shape, water and electricity not as readily available, more time and effort often spent on basic living/survival ( fetching water, wood etc.)
2) inadequate access to public services: schools, hospitals and clinics are not as accessible and people often have to travel long distances to get to school or a doctor.
3) lack of employment: less economic activity means that it is harder for people to find jobs apart from on farms and most people live a subsistence lifestyle.
What is indigenous knowledge?
It is the local knowledge which is unique to a given culture or society.
Explain the following terms:
Socio-economic imbalance
Inequality
Economic inequality
Wealth
Will
Prejudice
Social attitude
Inequitable
Infrastructure
Apartheid
Exploitation
Socio-economic imbalance: a situation where people do not have equal access to resources.
Inequality: imbalance
Economic inequality: the gap in levels of wealth and income between the rich and the poor.
Wealth: the value of all goods owned by a person, together with the money they have saved. It is also referred to as personal assets ( includes land and shares in companies).
Will: a legal document that provides information on what to do with you assets should you pass away.
Prejudice: a negative opinion or judgement of something or someone made without knowledge or considering the facts.
Social attitude: a way of feeling or thinking which exists in a particular time. It is a form of prejudice which is widely held within a certain society.
Inequitable: unfair.
Infrastructure: the basic physical structures, facilities and services, (such as roads, electricity, water and sewerage systems), that improve people’s quality of life and make it easier to make a living.
Apartheid: a system of discrimination in which black people in South Africa were unfairly treated and prevented from taking part in the economic life of the country.
Exploitation: abuse, to treat someone badly to get what you want; making them work longer hours for low wages.
