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Poverty and Wealth

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Social Stratification system of ranking people in a hierarchy ... culture of poverty, meritocracy, social disorganization, inequality is inevitable and useful ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Poverty and Wealth


1
Chapter 2
  • Poverty and Wealth

2
Economic Inequality in the United States
  • Social Stratification system of ranking people
    in a hierarchy
  • Social Classes categories of people who have
    similar resources and opportunities
  • Income (salary or earned wages)
  • Highest-earning 20 percent of U.S. families
    received 48 of all income. Lowest-paid 20
    received just 4 of all income. (U.S. Census
    2006)
  • Wealth (economic assets owned)
  • Wealthiest 20 own about 84 of all wealth. Top
    5 own 60 of all wealth in the United States,
    the top 1 owning nearly 40 of all private
    economic assets

3
Taxation
  • Progressive taxation policy that raises tax
    rates as income increases
  • 1 million or more nearly 30 to federal taxes
  • 40k-80k about 10 to federal taxes
  • 10-20k about 3 to federal taxes

4
The Rich and the Poor
  • The rich top 10-20 of the population (families
    which have an average income around 200,000)
  • The poor families with low-paying work or no
    job at all, usually with no wealth (12.6 poverty
    rate)
  • Poverty line standard set by the U.S government
    for the purpose of counting the poor (family of
    four at 19,971 annually) U.S. census Bureau
    2006
  • Poverty gap difference between actual income
    of a poor household and the official poverty line

5
The Poor
  • Age children are at greatest risk, make up
    about 35 of the poor.
  • Race racial minorities have a higher percentage
    of poor than whites, but numerically minorities
    do not make up the most of the poor population.
  • Gender women are at greater risk of poverty.
    61 of all U.S. adults who are poor are women.
    Gender gap as a result of feminization of
    poverty.
  • Family Patterns poverty rate lower for the
    married. Single female-headed-households at
    great risk of poverty.
  • Region inner city, urban areas have greatest
    poverty. Poverty lowest in areas that offer more
    jobs and educational opportunity

6
The Poor
  • Working Families are working harder and longer.
  • The Working poor
  • Barbara Ehrenreich - Nickel and Dimed
  • The Nonworking poor many poor families do not
    have a steady income. High percentage of poor
    not working at all or doing part-time work. Many
    reasons include health problems, lack of skills,
    lack of jobs, etc.
  • The underclass poor people who live in areas
    with high concentrations of poverty and limited
    opportunities for schooling or work.
    Hypersegregation

7
Problems linked to Poverty
  • Poor health
  • Substandard Housing
  • Homelessness
  • Limited Schooling
  • Crime and Punishment
  • Political Alienation

8
Social Welfare
  • Social Welfare Programs organized efforts by
    government, private organizations, and
    individuals to assist needy people
  • Social welfare programs benefit those defined as
    worthy
  • Social welfare programs benefit most people
  • Social welfare programs change income inequality
    only a little

9
Applying Theory to Poverty
  • Structural-Functional Analysis culture of
    poverty, meritocracy, social disorganization,
    inequality is inevitable and useful
  • Symbolic-Interaction Analysis (defining the
    problem) society or the individual (blaming the
    victim)
  • Social-Conflict Analysis poverty and
    capitalism, cultural capital, feminist theory,
    multicultural theory, intersection theory

10
Solutions?
  • Personal Responsibility (conservative) vs.
    Societal Responsibility (liberal)
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