Soc002g_Exam_003

Theoretical Models of Inequality

Static Model

  • Concept: Inequality remains constant and unchanging over time.

  • Key Point: Often associated with the Pareto Principle, known as the 80/20 rule, which indicates that a small percentage of the population controls a large majority of resources, suggesting that any reforms aimed at changing inequality may be ineffective or temporary.

Escalation Model

  • Concept: Asserts that inequality will rise perpetually unless intervention occurs.

  • Key Point: Based on Piketty’s formula (r > g), where returns on capital (r) outpace economic growth (g), indicating that wealth accumulation can exacerbate inequality without policy measures to address it.

  • Implications: Stresses the necessity for government intervention and adoption of policies that redistribute wealth or reform capitalist structures to mitigate inequality.

Development Model

  • Concept: Posits that inequality is dynamic and changes in conjunction with economic development;

  • Key Point: Industrial wages being higher than agricultural wages encourage migration from agriculture to industry, which can temporarily increase inequality during the developmental phase.

  • Association: Linked to the Kuznets Curve, which proposes initially rising inequality during a country’s development that eventually levels off or declines as a country becomes developed.

Cyclical Model

  • Concept: Suggests that inequality changes in cyclical patterns over time.

  • Key Point: Reflects historical events such as deindustrialization and indicates shifts of labor into the service sector. The Great U-Turn highlights the decline of organized labor and its effect on wage inequality.

Polarization Model

  • Concept: Demonstrates stark contrasts in inequality between core (wealthy) regions and peripheral (developing) regions.

  • Key Point: It indicates that while core regions may experience low inequality, peripheral areas often suffer from high degrees of inequality, showcasing the global disparities in resource distribution.

Convergence Model

  • Concept: The levels of inequality across countries are converging; poorer nations grow more equal while wealthier nations exhibit increasing stratification.

  • Key Point: Points to a trend where poorer countries are narrowing the inequality gap but rich countries are diverging, leading to rising internal inequality.

Inequality vs. Poverty

  • Definitions:

    • Inequality: Refers to relative deprivation in the distribution of resources among populations.

    • Poverty: Represents absolute deprivation in relation to basic needs.

  • Trend Analysis: Observations reflect significant regional variations in poverty rates, with declines in most regions except Sub-Saharan Africa, which remains the region with the highest poverty rates. The international poverty line is recognized at $2.15/day (PPP). Both inequality and poverty are critical social issues requiring attention.

Inequality vs. Mobility

  • Definitions:

    • Inequality: Concerns the distribution of material resources.

    • Mobility: Pertains to the distribution of opportunities available to individuals.

  • Importance: Mobility contributes to societal benefits like better allocation of resources, increased aspirations, and legitimization of social structures. Cross-national mobility trends reveal disparities related to income and education, often illustrated through the Great Gatsby Curve, which demonstrates the negative relationship between levels of inequality and social mobility.

Gender Inequality

  • Ascription: Life chances often dictated by inherent traits such as gender, which are beyond individual control.

  • Advancements: Improvements in gender equity can be attributed to globalization, modernization, the rise of post-materialist values, and active advocacy for women's rights.

Global Gender Gap

  • Measurement: Evaluated across four key dimensions: Economic Participation & Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health & Survival, and Political Empowerment.

  • Regional Variations: The Global Gender Gap reflects disparities in gender equality across various regions, highlighting differences in pay, educational access, and health outcomes.

Measuring Gender Inequality

  • Critical Areas:

    • Health and Survival: Includes metrics like sex ratios and life expectancy.

    • Educational Attainment: Assesses literacy and school enrollment.

    • Economic Participation: Differences in types of paid work and salaries.

    • Political Empowerment: Levels of representation in governmental roles.

Unpaid Work and Political Empowerment

  • Trends: Increasing female presence in politics and analysis of unpaid labor dynamics.

  • Movement Advocacy: Emphasizes the necessity for gender quotas and challenges stereotypes that hinder women's participation in electoral processes.

Conclusion

To thoroughly grasp the intricate relationships between inequality, mobility, gender issues, and poverty, it is crucial to investigate various theoretical models alongside historical and contemporary research findings.