The New Right

Question 1

Thatcher

Answer 1

Inequality in society is necessary, and can be used to benefit the country. If the rich pay less tax and make more profit, the money they spend will stimulate the economy. Therefore, this disproportionate wealth of the rich will trickle down, benefitting the lower classes as more jobs are created. Thatcher implemented this theory when cutting the top rate of tax to 40% in 1988

Question 2

Murray

Answer 2

Social inequality is the fault of the individual. There was a culture of welfare in England by the 1970s. Reliance on the welfare state causes the man in the family to feel that they are not needed to support their family, meaning children grow up with no male role model. Generations of children are created just like their parents- lazy, poor and uneducated.

Question 3

Sugarman

Answer 3

Inequality experienced by the poor is due to cultural deprivation. The lower classes value instant gratification e.g they may leave school early for a lesser paid job, whereas the middle classes value deferred gratification, and so they will plan for their futures- they will stay on in education, progressing to University, and gaining the qualifications enabling them to gain a well-paid job later in life, whereas the lower classes remain at the same or a similar low level of pay throughout their lives.

Question 4

What do New Right Sociologists believe?

Answer 4

Share the Functionalist belief that society is meritocratic and believe in a free market where people have choice, causing competition and making people responsible for their own actions. Welfare serves to undermine personal responsibility, and it is a lifestyle choice.
Influenced by Durkheim and Functionalism.

Question 5

Thatcher Criticism

Answer 5

Trickle down theory has evidently not worked, as poverty still exists in British society and the gaps in income and wealth are growing, and the poor today view themselves as worse off than those in the past.
Although, her government has been acknowledged to have improved many measures of the economy, as she cut the top rate of tax to 40%.

Question 6

Murray Criticism

Answer 6

Ignores some peoples inability to attain a good job, for example due to illness and disabilities. Not everyone on welfare made a choice.
But does offer an explanation for the increasing level of people on welfare.

Question 7

Sugarmann Criticism

Answer 7

Assumes that there are rigid differences between the social classes, which is evidently not the case. Howard points out that many poorer families want to invest in their futures but face more sickness and health issues.
But does offer an explanation to the fact that privileged white boys are 5x more likely to go to University.