SOC 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Meritocracy, Feudalism, Social Mobility

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 104
• Professor: Lock Rebecca

Document Summary

Is economic inequality socially necessary/inevitable: exam: we need to know difference between different levels of poverty. Absolute poverty: unable to meet basic needs: basic necessities of living: ex. Food, water, oxygen etc: absolute poverty is a qualitative idea, not a numerical measure, when does one fit in within these living conditions, third world countries, post disaster and war. Relative poverty: statistical measure of income (i. e. lowest 10% vs. top 10%) Licos- 20% more of their income (than the average family) on basic needs. Mbm- income needed to afford basic necessities: basic needs: internet seen as a necessity in getting an income, cell phone. Which versions of poverty/income measures are being invoked and implied here: debate over what kind of poverty. Neoliberal logic: there is a price to pay for reducing poverty . Only if the rich get richer will the poor be better off.