SOC 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Rent-Seeking, Progressive Tax, Rein
Document Summary
Chapter 2: rent seeking and the making of an unequal society. Even though market forces help shape the degree of inequality, government policies shape those market forces. The real criminal is government policy because they shape market forces. Addressing inequality: rein in excess at the top, strengthen the middle, help those at the botom. Each goal requires a program of its own. We have the power to shit the money around. Government sets and enforces the rules of the game: what is fair compeiion, what happens in bankruptcy, who will get government owned resources, how will dynamics of wealth be altered (via taxes, free educaion) The way american government performs these funcions determines the extent of inequality in our society. Marx: the government tends to serve the interest of those on top. Others say the government just creates trouble and should not be involved at all.
