Chapter 11 Flashcards
(43 cards)
Gini Coefficients
measure of how equally, or unequally wealth is distributed in a given population
How is wealth distributed?
It is finite and can be widely distributed or concentrated
High Gini Coefficient=
greater inequality
Social Stratification
division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy, which impacts how resources are allocated in society, every society has one
3 Characteristics of Social Stratification
characteristic of society, not reflection of individual differences, persists over generations because people inherit social class, maintained through beliefs widely shared through society
Weber’s Dimensions of Social Stratification
social class (wealth), status (prestige), and power
Meritocracy
a political system where economic goods/ political power are distributed to people based on talent, effort, and achievement, and advancement is based on performance, has a high social mobility
Social Mobility
ability/inability of social members to change their position in the social hierarchy
Intergenerational Social Mobility
changes between generations
Intragenerational Social Mobility
changes within generations
Economic Inequality
politically charged issue where income distribution in the U.S. is heavily skewed
Wealth Inequality
much worse than economic inequality because great wealth equates to advantages like freedom and autonomy
Wealthy people have access to many forms of power and control, such as…
charities/philanthropic organizations, can manipulate the political sphere, and use the money to directly gain control of the political office
Why is wealth/ lack of wealth self-perpetuated?
it is passed from one generation to another
Poverty
disparity between rich and poor is considered moral problem by many
Social forces create and perpetuate poverty for what 3 reasons?
poverty is built into the capitalist system, competition between social classes motivates those with power to get more power, and government actions to reduce poverty are generally limited by policy and American ideology (hard success)
Absolute Poverty
people don’t have enough to survive - objective
Relative Poverty
people think that they are poor relative to others -subjective
Poverty Line
households who fall below a specific threshold are considered to not have enough to survive
How is the poverty line calculated?
Social Security Administration multiplies the cost of a “nutritionally adequate food plan” by 3
Feminization of Poverty
women are more likely to be in poverty because they are more likely to live alone, have lower salaries and more kids are born to unmarried women
High-Income Countries
per capita income of $12,056, mostly in the global north, 81 nations
Middle-Income Countries
per capita income of $12,055 - $996, 103 nations
Low-Income Countries
per capita income below $996, largely agrarian and low-level industry, 34 nations
