3.b. Processes of economic change can create opportunities for some while creating and exacerbating social inequality for others

Question 1

What are the different scales that governments operate at

Answer 1

• national, regional and local scale within a country

- in the UK there are national, country, city and parish councils

Question 2

How do governments use taxation to reduce inequality

Answer 2

• used to redistribute wealth from more prosperous to less prosperous goups to create a fairer society
• UK has a progressive tax system where the better off pay a larger proportion of their incomes in tax

Question 3

How can subsidies be used to reduce inequality

Answer 3

• these are given to poorer groups e.g. children from poorer familes may get free meals, pensioners may get them for fuel, single parents from poorer familes may get free chilcare
• low wage workers, the unemployed and those with a long term disability are entitled to one

Question 4

How is planning used to reduce inequality

Answer 4

• priority is given to upgrading housing and services in the poorest areas e.g. rundown inner city
• targets the most deprived areas which vary in scale

Question 5

How is law used to reduce inequality

Answer 5

• legislation exists in the UK which outlaws discrimination on racial, ethnic, gender and age criteria. Aims to give equal opportunities
• poorest of workers protected by minimum wage legislation

Question 6

How id education used to reduce inequality

Answer 6

• UK government provides funding for training and upgrading skills in order to raise skill levels and qualifications, improve employment prospects and boost economic growth
• education programmes to improve personal health targeted at poorest groups

Question 7

Why has spending on pensions increased in recent years (doubled in the past years)

Answer 7

• due to increasing life expectancu and ageing population
• poorest members relying on pension
• disproportionate number of people living in inner city and contributes to higher levels of multiple deprivation in these areas
• large numbers of people now retiring have occupational pensions which provide a higher income than the state pension

Question 8

Which groups have missed out on health care provision

Answer 8

• NHS is free- people pay trhough tax
• provision of healthcare varies e.g. inner cities and remote rural areas are short of GPs. Other areas e.g. suburbs are well served

Question 9

What measures have been put in place to ensure rural areas are supported by the Government

Answer 9

• key settlement policy
• services e.g. education have been concentrated in large villages and towns. Act as hubs fot thouse in smaller settlements
• as personal mobility increased, rural residents no longer rely exclusively on their nearest key settlement