Global Inequality By Shannon Beach 1 Sociology 1020

Global Inequality By: Shannon Beach 1

Sociology 1020 TABLE OF CONTENTS SLIDE 1 -- COVER PAGE SLIDE 2 – TABLE OF CONTENTS SLIDE 3 – PRE-STUDY REFLECTION SLIDE 4 – TYPES OF COUNTRIES CHART SLIDE 5 – TYPES OF POLICY CHART SLIDE 6 – INCOME INEQUALITY CHART SLIDE 7 – LIFESPAN COMPARISON CHART SLIDE 8 – INEQUALITY GAP GRAPH SLIDE 9 – POST REFLECTION SLIDE 10&11 – SOURCES 2

Pre-study Reflection Global inequality is undeniable. We hear of children starving in Africa while obesity rates in North America are rising rampantly. As Americans we bathe in tubs of hygienic water daily although many around the world don’t have access to a glass of sanitary water to drink. As we discuss social problems and analyze the root of poverty others are living it, without money to afford even an elementary education the word sociology is meaningless to them. Yes, we sympathize with such people but what is affording us such luxuries and providing us such a comfortable lifestyle? Why were they born with the short end of the stick? How did we get so lucky? Maybe luck isn’t part of the equation. Here is a look at some of the issues causing global inequality. 3

Types of Countries CORE SEMI-PERIPHERAL Austria Belize Afghanistan Belgium Brazil Bolivia France Chile Cuba Germany Jamaica Costa Rica The Netherlands Mexico Dominican Republic United States Panama Ghana South Africa Haiti Tunisia Jordan Turkey Kazakhstan Uruguay Kenya Laos Pakistan Nepal Vietnam These examples based off of The American Sociological Review(Dunn, Kawana, Brewer (2000)) Note: Does not list all countries. 4

Does Economic Policy Have A Role? Country Economic System Classification United States Capitalist Core China Communist Core Brazil Capitalist Semi-Peripheral Costa Rica Capitalist Peripheral Kenya Capitalist Peripheral These examples based off of The American Sociological Review(Dunn, Kawana, Brewer (2000)) Most of the countries use some form of free market economy. Could Capitalism be a part of the problem or the solution? 5

Income Inequality Type Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita Core Country United States of America $ 15, 080, 000, 000 Semi-Peripheral Brazil Peripheral Afghanistan $2, 294, 000, 000 $29, 740, 000 These figures are based off the US dollar in 2011 using Purchasing Power Parity or PPP which adjusts for the exchange rate between the different currencies. (United States. Central Intelligence Agency. ) 6

Lifespan Comparison Type Country Life Expectancy at Birth Core Country United States of America 78. 49 Semi-Peripheral Brazil 72. 79 Peripheral Afghanistan 49. 72 These figures are based off the total population of both male and female in a 2012 estimate. (United States. Central Intelligence Agency. ) Life expectancy in Core countries is much higher than those of Peripheral countries. 7

The Gap Between Here we can see how as a whole the gap is growing between the core and peripheral countries. (United States. Central Intelligence) Agency. 8

What I Have Learned As population has grown so has the level of inequality. All of the classic theoretical analysis provides explanation for Global inequality. Eighty percent of the world uses some form of a Capitalist economy. The countries that were better off were those with a combination economy of social welfare and free market but with each government we find latent functions surrounding political systems contributing to the harsh conditions. The World-Systems theory is comprised of Core countries (industrialized capitalist), semi-periphery countries (industrializing mostly capitalist) and periphery countries (exploited, under-developed). The roles of these countries have changed drastically within the past few hundred years. The relationship of Imperialism that now exists between them is creating a dependency that reinforces poverty among Periphery countries. 9

Sources 1. Amin, Samir. "Exiting The Crisis Of Capitalism Or Capitalism In Crisis? . " Globalizations 7. 1/2 (2010): 261 -273. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. This study tried to determine if economic policy is helping or creating the problems that we are seeing with global inequality. 2. Caranti, Luigi. "The Causes Of World Poverty: Reflections On Thomas Pogge's Analysis. " Theoria: A Journal Of Social & Political Theory 57. 125 (2010): 36 -53. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. The complex reasons behind world poverty and what would remove it. A review of Thomas Pogge's thoughts which I think helped me better understand some of the circumstances that breed rapid poverty. 3. Miller, Richard W. "How Global Inequality Matters. " Journal Of Social Philosophy 42. 1 (2011): 88 -98. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. This article discusses how to reduce the impact of global inequality. It explains how international trade policies can exploit peripheral countries. I found this article through the SLCC databases. 4. United States. Central Intelligence Agency. COUNTRY COMPARISON : : GDP (PURCHASING POWER PARITY). The World Fact Book, 2012. Print. <https: //www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001 rank. html>. This source provided me with most of my statistics for the charts I created. The CIA has a website dedicated to statistical research in comparing countries to one another. 10

5. Utting, Peter. "The Struggle For Corporate Accountability. " Development & Change 39. 6 (2008): 959 -975. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. I found this source through the SLCC databases as well and it taught me about the changes in transnational corporations in recent years. They discuss how failure to limit corporate capitalism is contributing to inequality. 11