how does economic change influence patterns of social inequality in places Flashcards
(21 cards)
what is social inequality
- the unequal distribution of resources, wealth and opportunities across dif groups or places
- its shaped by age gender religion education wealth and access to services
2 key concepts of social inequality
- quality of life –> are ppls needs and desires met? access to healthcare, education, leisure, human dignity
- standard of living –> access to basic goods and services. housing, food, clothing, clean water, personal mobility
4 indicators of inequality
- SOCIAL
- % on free school meals/ state benefits
- crime incidence, fear of crime
- education levels - how many yrs in skl
- health care access - % in poor health - PHYSICAL
- housing quality
- pollution, graffiti, vandalism
- access toi open spaces and leisure facilities - ECONOMIC
- income levels
- % of unemployment
- % of lone pensioners - POLITICAL
- opportunity to engage in civic life –> election turnout
how to measure social inequality
- Index of Multiple Deprivation IMD
income
employment
education
health
crime
housing
living environment
explain the cycle of deprivation
poverty –>
low wages/ unemployment –>
poor living conditions –>
stress, illness –>
underperformance in school –>
low skills level –>
limited employment opportunities
how is inequality measure through INCOME and INEQUALITY
- world bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than US$1.90/ day
- in UK poverty is earing 60% less than median income
- gini coefficient –> measures income inequality on scale of 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality)
how is inequality measure through HOUSING and INEQUALITY
- housing access linked to income
- tenure type (ownership/ renting) shows inequality
- ACs –> home ownership through morgages
- Social housing –> common in low income households
- LIDCs –> informal housing with insecure tenure and poor conditions
how is inequality measure through EDUCATION and LITERACY
- Education = key factor in breaking cycle of deprivation
- literacy = major indicator of education inequality
- ‘fat’ territories –> larger gender disparities in literacy
- ‘slim’ territories = smaller gaps
how is inequality measure through HEALTH CARE and EMOPLOYMENT
HEALTHCARE
- Indicators: doctors per 1000 ppl, quality and availability depending on postcode
EMPLOYMENT
- regular income –> better QOL and SOL
a quantitive way to measure inequality
HDI
combines: income, life expt, education
ranges from 0 (least deprived) to 1 (most)
above 0.8 = high
0.5-0.79 = medium
<0.5 = low
urban - rural divide
- urban has better access to services
- rural access to banking, health and retail is lower
- even with devices and internet: internet speed, quality and cost differs
emerging solutions to the rural - urban divide
- in EDCs/LIDCs moblie phone tech and solar-powered networks are being created to help
features of a global shift due to globalisation
- since 1980s manufacturing moved from LIDCs –> NICs like East Asia and Latin America
- this was due to cheaper labour costs and improved transport (containerisation) and communication
- this made ACs shift from primary and secondary job sectors to tertiary and quaternary sectors
- this resulted in job losses in manufacturing especially in inner-city working-class communities
economic restructuring in ACs
- led to deindustrialisation –> closure of mines, steelworks, shipyards, textile mills.
- led to high employment, poor health, inner-city decline and skills mismatch bc the traditional jobs didnt match the more advanced jobs
- left abandonded buildings, pollution, derelication
positive economic change cycle
large manufacturing plant established –>
job creation and population growth –>
increased demand –> growth in services - retail + education –>
higher tax base so more local gov investment –>
improved infrastructure –>
further growth and rising incomes.
positives and negatives of economic change in ACs
PROS
- cheaper imports lower cost of living
- labour freed for higher productivity sectors
- opps for tech development, innovation + entrepreneurship
- labour mobility and flexibility
- environmental improvements
CONS
- rising imports causes job losses in old sectors
- large gaps between skilled and unskilled workers
positives and negatives of economic change in EDCs/ LIDCs
PROS
- export-led growth supports national economy
- brings jobs, tech, foreign investment
- reduces trade imbalanced and global injustice
CONS
- jobs concentrated in one region –> uneven benefits
- TNCs exploit workers - sweatshops
- opverdependence on foreign firms for stability –> slows down countries development
- environmental damage from transport and high waste levels
what is the cyclical pattern of the economy
follows the long term theory by Kondratieff: 50 year cycles of booms and recessions
booms
- innovation drives booms –> new tech boost productivity and efficiency
- during boom: high economic growth, increased investment, job creation, higher living standards
- mainly affects core urban regions –> multiplyer effect
recessions
- during: slower or negative growth (GDP falls), rising unemployment, falling business confidence and investment, households cut spending so business profit falls, govs earn less tax rev to fund public services
- impacts: increased inequality, poorer comunities feel recessions deeper bc dont have job security etc
key government measures that help tackles inequality
taxation - redistributes wealth
subsidies - child benefits, pensions
planning - regeneration, affordable housing
law - anit-discriminatory and equal rights - HRA 1998, Equality Act 2010
education - free access and better quality
healthcare - NHS offers. universal healthcare access
