new right views on inequality Flashcards
(22 cards)
why do the new right believe we have inequality?
it maintains order and stability by ensuring we are all responsible for our own lives.
what do the new right believe should be the driving force in society?
the free market - competition between businesses to allow consumers to make own choice.
what do the new right believe by talking about individual responsibility?
don’t believe in collective responsibility and taxes shouldn’t directly be taken as it limits personal choice.
what do the new right say about state intervention?
they don’t like it because it interferes with free market, eg redistributing money. removes motivation/incentive for people to work hard.
what is the trickle down theory?
if the wealthy have to pay less taxes and make more profit, the money they spend will stimulate the economy creating jobs.
this has never actually been proven to work
what are the 3 theories explaining why poverty/inequality is the fault of the poor?
cultural deprivation - culture of the poor keeps them from success.
cycle of deprivation - poor transmit poverty to their children through poor socialisation.
underclass theory- combines the two
what are o’brian’s two types of poverty?
deserving poor - people who are poor for reasons beyond their control and are working way out of poverty.
undeserving poor - people who live through crime, drinking and drugs.
what does saunders say about dependency culture?
welfare state is overly generous so members of society become dependent and don’t try to get jobs.
what does saunders mean by consumption cleavage?
the difference between those who can afford to pay for private provisions such as healthcare/education and those who rely on state provisions. victim blames and suggests poor people should’ve prepared better.
what are saunders 3 types of equality?
formal/legal equality
equality of opportunity
equality of outcome
what does saunders mean by formal/legal equality?
we are all subject to same rules and individuals are judges based on what they do not who they are.
what does saunders mean by equality of opportunity?
everyone hs an equal chance to become rich or poor and those with more merit achieve this. (meritocratic)
what does saunders mean by equality of outcome?
in a fully fledged democratic society, everyone would cross finish line at same time no matter how hard they tried.
what is a positive discrimination policy?
ethnic minority may get priority for promotion.
MAP- lowers grades for w/c students getting into uni.
what does murray say is forming?
underclass
what is the underclass?
a culture of dependence developed by single mothers inadequately socialising children with no male role models leading to violence and crime.
what are murray’s 3 categories for underclass?
illegitimacy, crime and unemployment.
what does murray say about illegitimacy?
most illegitimate children born to women in lower social class and absence of father has become norm. cohabing parents aren’t as stable as married parents.
what does murray say about crime?
crime is damaging because community is fragmented and if victimisation is high, people become defensive and suspicious and retreat into homes more. young males imitate older males and start committing crimes.
what does murray say about unemployment?
unemployment isn’t the problem, it is the unwillingness of young men to take jobs. men used to find it humiliating to rely on benefits but think its fine now. unable to support family, increasing illegitimacy.
what is the idea of the daddy state?
vulnerable people being punished by the government, eg benefit claimants. for example restricting child benefits.
critisisms of new right views on stratification?
blames victims of social deprivation and inequality for own misfortunes.
no evidence that trickle down effect works, wealth gap is just increasing.
traditional nuclear families can be dangerous for women.
ignore tax evasion.
