Exam 8: Social Stratification

William and his family experienced a dramatic increase in their wealth since 1999.Given what is known about which groups experienced increases in family wealth, in which group do William and his family most likely belong?

What is the relationship between income and wealth?

Do Marxist, Weberian, and functionalist theories of classification justify interests of identifiable classes in capitalism? If yes, identify these classes and explain why you have chosen them.

Which of the following factors influence the level of inequality in a society?

Explain the link between a family's socioeconomic status and the educational attainment of children.

Compare the usefulness of class analysis and functionalist analysis of stratification in explaining poverty.

In Marxist view, classes are distinguished by their source of income, not the amount of income.

Fifty-eight-year-old Maryann lost her job last year and has been unable to find another because employers think she is too old to hire and train.She has no family to assist her and is worried because her meagre savings are nearly depleted.What is the most probable outcome of this situation?

According to the textbook, which wealthy country has the lowest income inequality?

Leif believes that poverty is caused by the boom and bust cycles of a capitalist economic system and by people's tolerance of low-wage jobs and union busting.His views are consistent with which of the following explanations of poverty?

Kate has just finished law school and is keen to gain a position with a prestigious corporate law firm in Vancouver.Besides her talent and education, which of the following would most help her to get hired?

Ruth has been to a finishing school where, besides academic subjects, she was taught other skills such as how to speak and walk properly, manners, and public speaking.What has Ruth invested in by learning these skills?

How do income redistribution policies of the developed European countries and the developed North American countries differ?

Jared has been told by his father that poor people are generally poor because they are either lazy or unintelligent or unskilled.What level of explanation does Jared's father's ideas represent?

Yuri and his co-workers have been feeling increasingly resentful at the long hours they work in dangerous conditions for low pay, while their boss takes more exotic vacations every year.Yuri and others call in a union organizer to talk to all the workers.What Marxist concept do the actions of Yuri and his co-workers illustrate?

Compare Marx's and Weber's definitions of class.

Canada's refusal to limit its policies to an official definition of poverty helps fight against poverty.

According to the textbook, why do definitions matter when it comes to discussing poverty?

Is power or authority more effective in maintaining a stable society?

Research suggests that individual attributes of the poor have no bearing on poverty.