Deck 22: Cumulative Essay Questions

Question 1

What is the role of taxation in ameliorating inequality? What role have taxes played and what effect have they had?

Answer 1

Taxes play a key role in the nature of inequality in a society as they are a tool used by governments to redistribute wealth (or not) between individuals. Students can mention that the impact of taxation is evident when we inspect the Gini coefficient of market income with the Gini coefficient of after-tax income. Students may also draw attention to different tax rates within Canada (Quebec especially) and make note of its impact on a fairer society. Students should also mention that not all taxes are equal in their redistributive effects. Income taxes are mostly progressive whereas consumption taxes are mostly regressive. When discussing the past and the present, it is important to keep in mind that taxes such as the Chinese head tax was once used as a means of restricting entrance into Canada by "undesirable" groups. Moving forward, the finding of the CPP and QPP by payroll taxes poses serious questions about our ability to fund our welfare state as the proportion of working individuals in Canada declines.

Question 2

What theoretical traditions underpin the study of social inequality? How do they manifest in the study of different aspects of inequality? Explain each and make a case for which one you think is best suited.

Answer 2

This is an expansive question, but ultimately students will resolve the answer into a duality. Approaches to inequality tend to fall into either a rational choice/economics approach or into a conflict/society approach. The rational choice approach is individual-based and assumes a rational, purposeful acting agent. In contrast, the Marxian and "social" approach is more concerned with the effects (and to some extent) the causes of class membership for social groups. Examples that students should cite of these approaches in more applied analyses of inequality should include human capital theory, the study of educational choices and educational attainment, value-attribution theory, and the natural equalization approaches. The "social" approaches that are influenced to a great extent by Marx include: the rise of the precariat as a new social class in post-industrial society, the life-course perspective, the effects of cultural capital in the educational system, the effects of class on aspirations, the class/gender causality issue, the social determinants of health, the working-class authoritarianism thesis, and studies of dominant ideology.

Question 3

What is mobility? What forms does mobility take and what are the actual occurrences of mobility in Canada?

Answer 3

Mobility is the ability to move between stations in life. Different forms of mobility include inter- and intragenerational mobility. Intergenerational mobility refers to changes in your occupation, wealth, or education, etc. relative to your parents. Intragenerational mobility refers to movements between these same positions within one's lifetime. Mobility is an important concept because it is generally held to be an indication of the fairness or openness of a society. Canada is generally an open society; however, there are several instances of immobility. Students should indicate that parental education, income, and occupation are all good indicators of your social class and your occupational status. In this respect, class advantages do not determine life chances, but they certainly impact them.

Question 4

Sociology is interested in empirical analysis of social phenomena. How is inequality measured in Canada and what methodological challenges arise when measuring it?

Question 5

The state plays a key role in the nature and degree of inequality in a nation. What has the Canadian government done that has affected inequality? Give specific examples.

Question 6

Feudal inequality was largely based on ascribed characteristics. How has the basis of inequality changed through industrial to "post-industrial" times?

Question 7

How does inequality manifest itself outside of the workplace? Who is most impacted by this?

Question 8

What is the role of ideology in perpetuating inequality? What are the dominant ideas that shape how we think about society?

Question 9

What are some of the governments' influences on the economy? In your opinion, do you think the current Canadian government has too much power to intervene in the economy? Why or why not? Please elaborate.

Question 10

The corporate elite require a high level of internal cohesion as a tight "business community" and extensive reach into political and civil society to maintain the support for their hegemonic worldview. Explain how, classically, elite cohesion was maintained. What has the composition of the elite become today?

Question 11

What factors influence the level of education received among Canadians? How do these factors determine how well one is educated? Are there additional factors that affect the degree of schooling for families from minority groups like Indigenous and migrant workers?

Question 12

Describe the working environment for migrant workers and its changes throughout the years. What programs are available? What are their benefits and disadvantages?

Question 13

What type of discrimination do women experience when it comes to income? What benefits do they experience and under what circumstances? What is the experience of immigrant women like? How are they at a disadvantage?

Question 14

How have the circumstances of COVID-19 affected workers across Canada? How have migrants been particularly affected?

Question 15

Union leaders and social activists are worried about a "race to the bottom", where workers in other countries undercut each other' to the benefit of transnational corporations (TNCs) and capitalists who seek out tax breaks, low wages for workers and minimal environmental standards. Think of industries where this is a particular issue and propose potential policy suggestions that may help to ensure that the workers are treated fairly and not be exploited by the TNCs.