Deck 11: The American Class Structure and Growing Inequality

Question 1

Which one of the following is NOT one of the six classes identified by the authors?

A) the lower-middle class
B) the upper-middle class
C) the working class
D) the underclass

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The author's model of the American class structure emphasizes ______.

A) source of income
B) amount of income
C) amount of wealth
D) amount of education

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which class can be distinguished from the capitalist class not only because they have lower incomes, but because the majority of their income is acquired through salaries and/or professional fees as opposed to income-generating wealth?

A) the middle class
B) upper-upper class
C) new capitalist class
D) upper-middle class

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The ever-increasing purchasing power of this class is making it more influential, and their lifestyles are becoming increasingly normative for the whole of American society. Which of the following classes fits this description?

A) upper-upper class
B) capitalist class
C) middle class
D) upper-middle class

Question 5

The political influence of ______ group has declined significantly as the good-producing industries of the economy, which typically had strong union membership, have contracted.

A) underclass
B) working-poor
C) working class
D) middle class

Question 6

According to Gilbert, limited and erratic work histories, lack of skills, and incomplete education make finding full-time employment difficult for members of the ______.

A) lower class
B) lower upper class
C) working-poor class
D) underclass

Question 7

The lower boundary of ______, defined by commitment to employment, is blurred by the tendency of some individuals to move back and forth across it.

A) lower class
B) working class
C) underclass
D) working-poor class

Question 8

Together ______ classes make up the majority of the American class structure.

A) upper-middle and middle
B) middle and working
C) middle and working-poor
D) upper-middle and working-poor

Question 9

The ______ is defined by its dependence on income-producing wealth.

A) capitalist class
B) middle class
C) working-poor class
D) underclass

Question 10

All of the following are true about the American middle class EXCEPT ______.

A) the changing character of work has largely eliminated the difference between blue-collar and white-collar work blurring the boundary between the middle and working classes
B) the middle class is large and diverse
C) the middle class has a greater political impact than other classes
D) the middle class is probably growing in size

Question 11

Public policy has become more responsive to ______ classes and less responsive to ______ classes.

A) middle; privileged
B) privileged; other
C) lower; privileged
D) privileged; lower

Question 12

The largest proportion of Americans belongs to what class?

A) capitalist
B) upper-middle
C) middle
D) working

Question 13

What class is defined by their dependence on income-producing wealth?

A) capitalist
B) upper-middle
C) middle
D) working

Question 14

What class is a highly credentialed group?

A) capitalist
B) upper-middle
C) middle
D) working

Question 15

Workers in routine white-collar jobs would be considered members of ______.

A) lower-middle class
B) working class
C) working poor
D) underclass

Question 16

Those at the middle and bottom of the class structure have seen their incomes grow at a much slower rate than during the Age of ______, whereas those at the top have seen their incomes soar.

A) Growing Inequality
B) Social Mobility
C) Shared Prosperity
D) Income Inequity

Question 17

What has become increasingly concentrated at the top of the class hierarchy?

A) income
B) associations
C) wealth
D) debt

Question 18

In developed countries, which group is in demand?

A) crafts workers
B) operatives
C) technicians
D) laborers

Question 19

A significant number of the members of ______ depend on government transfer programs, including food stamps, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and veterans benefits.

A) lower-middle class
B) working class
C) working-poor class
D) underclass

Question 20

What is not one of the three basic sources of income available to households in the United States?

A) capitalist wealth
B) job earnings
C) tax refunds
D) government transfers

Question 21

For which class is higher education most likely?

A) middle class
B) working class
C) working poor
D) underclass

Question 22

According to the author of the text, there are currently how many class levels?

A) Three
B) Four
C) Five
D) Six

Question 23

What is not one of the three broader categories of social classes?

A) the privileged classes
B) the majority classes
C) the middle classes
D) the lower classes

Question 24

In Bourdieu's terms, what is not a vital part of inheritance transmission?

A) economic capital
B) cultural capital
C) social capital
D) emotional capital

Question 25

Who is not considered to be a part of the capitalist class?

A) owners of substantial enterprises
B) top-ranking executives of major corporations
C) successful small-business owners
D) heirs to family fortunes

Question 26

Since the early 1970s, wages have more or less stagnated and the distribution of wages has become increasingly unequal.

Question 27

There has been an appreciable reduction in the poverty rate since the 1960s.

Question 28

The poor are more likely to be over 65 and less likely to be under 18 than they were in 1960.

Question 29

Although intergenerational upward social mobility is still pretty common, it has slowed in the Age of Growing Inequality.

Question 30

Although the economic resources of the Capitalist Class enable them to operate within the world of politics in ways that reinforce their structural position, they are unable to operate in a similar fashion within the world of media.

Question 31

The working poor are highly involved in the political process.

Question 32

The Gilbert model of the American class structure emphasizes amount of income.

Question 33

The lifestyles of the upper-middle class are becoming increasingly normative for the whole of American society.

Question 34

Members of the working class have high rates of political participation.

Question 35

The postindustrial economy tends toward occupational polarization.

Question 36

Manufacturing is still an important part of the U.S. economy, but computers and robots have decreased the need for unskilled labor.

Question 37

The Age of Growing Inequality seems to be coming to a close.

Question 38

The changing character of work has largely eliminated the traditional differences between blue-collar and white-collar employment.

Question 39

Wealth represents a deeper inequality than earnings or income.

Question 40

Intergenerational social mobility slowed in the Age of Growing Inequality.

Question 41

In the Age of Growing Inequality, more men are employed, they work longer hours, and they earn higher wages.

Question 42

By most definitions, the middle class is large and diverse.

Question 43

Wealth provides the broadest and most continuous measure we have of economic inequality.

Question 44

Low-income households with limited participation in the labor force form the underclass.

Question 45

The middle class is large and diverse.

Question 46

List and provide a brief description of each of the six classes defined by Gilbert.

Question 47

Describe three characteristics of the Age of Shared Prosperity and three characteristics of the Age of Growing Inequality.

Question 48

In what types of occupations are members of the middle class typically employed?

Question 49

Describe the differences and similarities between the underclass and the working poor.

Question 50

Describe the state of intergenerational social mobility in the Age of Growing Inequality.