Examples For Every Essay Flashcards
(36 cards)
Wealth Inequality
Unemployment Example 1
One reason for wealth inequality is unemployment.
This is because not having a job means that a person is likely not making enough money to buy basic needs to survive such as food, shelter and clothing. Being unemployed might also mean that a person isn’t able to take advantage of opportunities that will help them to gain the skills required to get a job, such as unpaid internships, work experience or educational courses, as they can’t afford to do so. This means that they will likely not get employment and struggle to survive.
For example, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) showed in 2022 that in households where someone is in full time work, the poverty rate is 10%. This is compared to households with no work where the poverty rate is around 50%.
Wealth Inequality
Unemployment Example 2
However, unemployment is not the sole reason for wealth inequality. If someone is unemployed, they are also more likely to be dependent on benefits which makes them even more vulnerable to poverty. This is because benefits in the UK are lower than other countries’ and decisions taken by the UK government to restrict, increase, freeze or decrease benefits can have a large impact on the amount of people living in poverty. This also means that families that rely on their benefits don’t always have enough to survive as their income is constantly fluctuating.
For example, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation showed in 2022 that the poverty rate for families relying on Universal Credit is 54% compared to the poverty rate of 15% for families who do not rely on benefits.
Wealth Inequality
Low Pay Example 1
Another reason for wealth inequality is low pay. This is because if someone doesn’t earn a lot of money from their job they are likely unable to afford basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, etc. as they wouldn’t have the sufficient funds to afford them. If someone has a job, even if it’s low paying, they are also unable to claim many benefits which would mean they aren’t making a lot of money on top of their job, which could possibly land them in poverty. Having a job doesn’t exclude someone from poverty as the poverty rate for the country is higher than the unemployment rate.
For example, the UK unemployment rate at the end of 2021 was around 4% which is significantly lower than the working age poverty rate of 20% in the UK.
para 2 - women and young example
However, low pay is more likely to lead to wealth inequality for women and young people in particular.
This is because women and young people are more likely to work part time jobs, which are lower paying, as they are flexible and allow them to fulfil their caring roles and educational responsibilities whilst still earning money. This has resulted in many families falling below the poverty line and becoming “working poor households”, particularly those with a single mother. Additionally, working part-time can lead to poverty as those working part-time make less money than someone who works full time as they are working less hours.
For example, part-time worker poverty rates are more than double the poverty rates of full time workers (23% compared to 10%).
Wealth Inequality
Education Example 1
A third reason for wealth inequality is low educational attainment. This is because higher qualification levels and skills are associated with higher earnings and better employment prospects which reduces the risk of poverty for highly qualified people and their children. If someone doesn’t get high qualifications at school, it is likely that they will struggle to get a well paying job which can lead to poverty as they wouldn’t have the money to afford basic necessities such as food, clothes, shelter, etc.
For example, just over 1 in 10 working age adults with an undergraduate degree or above are living in poverty compared with more than 4 in 10 working-age adults with no qualifications.
Wealth Inequality
Education Example 2
However, low education may not be the most important reason for wealth inequality because some places in the UK struggle less with this than others. This is because education is a devolved power, meaning it is different in each of the 4 UK countries. In Scotland, students don’t have to pay to go to university as it is provided by the Scottish government. In contrast, English students must pay fees to attend university. This means that Scottish students from poorer backgrounds will have fewer financial concerns about affording university in contrast to English students who may need to take out a loan each year just for tuition.
For example, according to UCAS, English students can pay up to £9,250 a year to go to university in 2023. Most Scottish students will not generally have to pay to go to university in Scotland for their first degree. Considering the poverty rate in Scotland is 3% lower compared to England, the greater barriers to education may explain some of England’s higher poverty rate.
Health Inequality
Poverty Example 1
One reason for health inequality is poverty. This is because people living in poverty are more likely to live in poor living conditions as those who are unemployed or have a low income are more likely to live in small and cramped flats which might be cold or damp. Poor living conditions can have a major impact on a person’s health as they can lead to health problems such as respiratory problems e.g asthma or illnesses like pneumonia. Poorer people are also more likely to eat unhealthy, processed foods as they are cheaper than nutritious meals/foods. Microwave meals and takeaways cost less than healthy options like fruit, vegetables, etc. Poor diet can lead to health problems like obesity, cancer and heart disease.
For example, the Joseph Rowntree 2022 Poverty report found that 25% of 16-34 year olds living in poverty reported living in less than good health, compared with 15% of those not living in poverty.
Health Inequality
Poverty Example 2
However, lifestyle choices also play a role in causing health issues, showing that poverty may not be the main cause of health inequality. This is because there are a wide range of benefits and support for individuals to help them combat the impact of poverty on health, suggesting poverty isn’t the main cause of health inequality as help is accessible for lower income individuals.
For example, the UK has a free, universal healthcare system (the National Health Service) which can offer support with alcohol and smoking addictions as well as provide advice on diet.
Health Inequality
Smoking Example 1
Another reason for health inequality is smoking. This is because people that smoke risk becoming addicted and also make it more likely that a person will suffer health-related harm such as lung disease, cancer and early death.
For example, ASH Scotland (Scotland’s Anti-Smoking Charity) found that there are almost 10,000 smoking related deaths in Scotland each year (16% of all deaths) and around 100,000 smoking related hospital admissions each year.
Health Inequality
Smoking Example 2
However, people living in poverty may be more likely to smoke, showing poverty may be the bigger cause of health inequality. This is because people living in poverty might turn to smoking as a way of suppressing their hunger sas an alternative to spending money on food. People living in poverty might also smoke as a way of relieving their stress as poorer people experience stress related to material hardship.
For example, people who have 4 or more anxiety symptoms in the most deprived areas, 45% smoke in comparison to only 4% in the least deprived areas.
Health Inequality
Alcohol Example 1
A final reason for health inequality is choosing to abuse alcohol . This is because many Scottish people choose to incorporate drinking into their social lives. This can lead to a serious amount of harmful diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver and high blood pressure. Alcohol has also been shown to cause cancer, fertility problems and damage the immune system. Gender is also a factor when it comes to alcohol consumption, with men suffering from the consequences of alcohol more than women.
For example, men are 2x more likely to die of an alcohol-specific death than women.
Health Inequality
Alcohol Example 2
However, people living in poverty may be more likely to abuse alcohol, showing poverty may be the bigger cause of health inequality. This is because alcohol is often consumed by poorer people as a way of escaping for a while from their poverty related stresses and pressures. People in poverty also have higher levels of physical and mental health problems as well as higher issues of debt which could push them to drink.Deprived communities also have fewer facilities such as gyms, social clubs and community centres where people can meet and socialise with one another. This leaves little option than meeting in pubs with an expectation to drink. The opposite is true for affluent areas, as there is an influx of places for people to socialise that don’t involve alcohol/drinking.
For example, Health Scotland reports that the level of alcohol-specific deaths for those in the most deprived parts of Scotland was 8x higher than for those in the least deprived areas.
Gov. Responses
UC Example 1
One government response to inequality is Universal Credit. This is a benefit designed to give support to low income citizens. The amount someone gets is based on factors such as income, age, disability, if they have children, etc. It is given once a month (similar to a salary) and the individualist response is that if the amount provided is low enough, people will be encouraged to get a job and earn their own way out of poverty
For example, if a person makes under £6,000 they receive a full UC payment, whilst those who earn £6,000-£16,000 receive a reduced UC payment - those who make over £16,000 are not entitled to UC.
Gov. Responses
UC Example 2
However, others would argue that Universal Credit doesn’t do enough. This is because, since the introduction of Universal Credit, poverty in the UK still remains high. Whilst the policy might have encouraged people to work, the problems with low pay mean that employment alone isn’t enough to end poverty A. The JFR has found that the likelihood of being in poverty whilst receiving benefits such as Universal Credit has increased over time.
For example, over half of individuals in families recipient of Universal Credit - and the legacy benefits it’s replacing - are in poverty
Gov. Responses
NLW Example 1
Another gov. response to inequality is the National Living Wage. This is a gov. policy that guarantees citizens a minimum hourly wage in law, but is paid for by the employer. The idea behind this is that being in work should be enough to avoid being in poverty. It puts the responsibility onto citizens to earn the income they need to look after themselves.
For example, the Living Wage Foundation found that in 2021, those who had benefited from the National Living Wage were now £2,700 better off a year than they would have been if they had stayed on the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
Gov. Responses
NLW Example 2
However, others would argue that the NLW is not enough. This is because the gov. has introduced a living wage that is below the amount calculated as the “Real Living Wage” (the amount someone needs to not live in poverty) and found that those on the Real Living Wage would actually be around £3,800 better off per year.U The NLW has also been argued to be discriminatory since it pays younger people less for the same work. Also, poverty rates in the UK haven’t changed much since the introduction of NLW.
For example, NLM/NLW policies have been around for over 20 years, but the JFR has highlighted that the UK poverty rate of around 22% has changed little in the last 15 years, suggesting these policies aren’t effective enough.
Gov. Responses
MUP Example 1
Another gov. response to inequality is Minimum Unit Pricing. This is a law created by the Scottish gov. to try and reduce overall alcohol consumption and availability in Scotland. The policy sets a minimum price for every unit of alcohol (this was set at 50p per unit) The objective of this policy is to put off shoppers from buying higher strength alcohol, and is particularly aimed at lower income people who can have a much stronger (and negative) relationship with alcohol
For example, the first reports into MUP found that the amount of alcohol sold in Scotland declined by almost 4%.
Gov. Responses
MUP Example 2
However, the reality is that the policy is too new to really know if it will have a long term impact. This is because the harms of alcohol come from long term abuse of it, meaning that it will take a long while to see the impact of MUP on health outcomes.A Also, one of the first studies by the Scottish gov. into the effectiveness of MUP found that for young people under 18, this new policy has had little difference on their drinking and that a lot of them mostly consumed alcohol that was more expensive than the minimum set out by the MUP policy. U Along with this, alcohol deaths in Scotland have remained high even after the introduction of MUP.
For example, National Records Scotland (NRS) show 1,277 people died from conditions caused by alcohol in 2023, one death more than the previous year (which was the highest number since 2008)
Holding Gov. To Account
Committees Example 1
One way the government can be held to account is through committees. This is when small groups of MPs get together to discuss important issues, examine legislation and question government ministers. There are two types of committees: Public Bill Committees which exist for as long as a proposed bill is in parliament and Select Committees which shadow each government department. Some committees will hold investigations into things that have gone wrong and can expose the failings of the government. The government must attend these committee meetings and answer questions which can be quite in depth.
For example, in 2023 the Privileges Select Committee published a report stating that Boris Johnson misled the House of Commons when he stated COVID rules were followed during a social gathering at No.10 Downing Street. If Boris Johnson had still been an MP at that point (he had already resigned) they would have recommended a 90 day suspension from the House of Commons.
Holding Gov. To Account
Committees Example 2
However, committees are only partly effective at holding the government to account as the Government can choose to ignore committee reccomendations in UK Parliament. This is because the government aren’t forced to take on committees’ recommendations so can completely ignore them. They can also hold back or delay reports produced by committees and release them at a time that better suits the governemnt.
For example, in 2023 the Government refused to commit to a new strategy in schools on issues of sexual harrasssment and gender-based violence specifically aimed at engaging boys and young men, despite calls in a report from MPs on the Women and Equaltiies Select Committee.
Holding Gov. To Account
PMQs Example 1
Another way the government can be held to account is through Prime Ministers Questions. This is where the Prime Minister will take questions from MPs and have to defend their government. It happenes every Wednesday for 30 minutes. PMQs is the most watched and well attended session in the parliamentary week, meaning it gets a lot of media attention which highlights where the Government, and the PM in particular, aren’t doing well. The leader of the opposition gets to ask the first question directly. These questions can be on anything so the PM has to be prepared and knowledgeable about all of the actions the government is working on.
For example, in 2024 Rishi Sunak had to take difficult questions from Keir Starmer on the economy. Keir Starmer said that Liz Truss and the Conservatives crashed the economy and increased mortgage rates for many. Rishi Sunak had to try and defend his Government.
Holding Gov. To Account
PMQs Example 2
However, PMQs are only partly effective in holding the government to account as many MPs will belong to the same political party as the government. This is because the majority of MPs in Parliament will belong to the leading party, meaning that it’s unikely that they will ask difficult or negative questions about the Government and instead might ask ‘nice’ questions that paints the Government in a good light, allowing them to boast about how well they are doing. Also, time can be wasted quite easily.
For example, Keir Starmer took time to wish the 2023 Eurovision entrant good luck in May 2023.
Holding Gov. To Account
HoL Example 1
A final way the government can be held to account is through the House of Lords. This is the second ‘chamber’ in the Houses of Parliament and is made up of around 800 Lords, all of whom are not elected representatives. Their job is to scrutinise all of the bills that the Governemnt is trying to pass into law. They have time to look through these documents in detail and ask for justifications for certain ideas. They can also reject Bills that they believe are inappropriate or not properly thought through.
For example, Rushi Sunak’s Rwanda bill to send some assylum seekers to Rwanda faced strong criticism during its first debate in the House of Lords. Lord David Blunkett called the bill ‘shoddy and less than this country deservers’ This didn’t make the conservatives look good and meant they needed to work harder to gain political and public support for the bill.
Holding Gov. To Account
HoL Example 2
However, the house of Lords is not democratic meaning its ability to scrutinise the government has limits. This is because there are two types of Lords - Hereditary peers who are there because the title has been passed down to them and Life peers who were appointed by the Prime Minister of the day. The more time one party is in power in the Commons, the more Lords they get to appoint into the House of Lords. This means that parties who have reigned for a long period of time (e.g the Conservatives) have mulitple allies in the Lords that could possibly overpower votes on passing Bills.
For example, in July 2024 there were 274 Conservative members in the House of Lords and only 172 Labour members.
