Sociology Midterm Outline

Chapter 1
Double divide- Great job income both between countries.
Gini Coefficient- Measure income inequality 0 reflects total equality 100 represents max
inequality.
Is inequality greater within or between countries? Gap between nations tend to be larger than the
gap within any single country.
Is inequality declining? Is that meaningful? It is declining because of strong economic growth
like China and India.
Adam Smiths Theory of the economy- Neoliberalism- free trade, deregulation and privatization
Adam Smith (1776) Modernization- Freedom leads to greater wealth- Capitalism- Production
should be privately owned for profit by a competitive market.
Marxism- Agreed capitalism will bring economic growth but no benefit at all. Why not? Rise of
the capitalist class depends on the exploitation of the proletariat (the workers).
Modernization Theory- Rooted in neoliberalism (free trade) (Private) Economic growth
through trade, foreign investment. Internal- the problems are without fault.
World Systems/ Dependency Theory- Rooted In Marxism, foreign Investment/ Trade brings
Exploitation- Terms of trade are rigged against the poor. Distortion- Goods produced dont
serve local needs. Economic- Arent self -sufficient. Domination- Poor countries become
dependent on rich.
Third Way Economics- Welfare state- No country is purely capitalist, with no government
influence.

Jeffrey Sachs Main Claim- He advances a new explanation with Geography- Africa- can
extreme poverty be eliminated? Natural resources- Green Revolution- Developed world 60s and
70s and help them with better crops, food, growth. -Tropical climate/ Disease. -Proximity to
trade routes/ high transport costs. Solution is that send aid from rich countries 160 billion a year,
which is double the budget of rich countries.
Problems with this Theory- Chance of a rich country wanting to help a poor country is slim and
is doubtful because people dont want to give up what they already have. Rich countries profit
from other countries being poor. How do we monitor: who gets the money. How do we
distribute the money? (Especially, with corruption/ war violence countries). Who decides which
countries get how much and in a fair way. Sustainability- Use all this aid money to bring new
roads, crops, hospital, schools but how we going to make sure it is stable. So educate the
population and if rich countries dont see results they might pull back on the future funding and
make things worse, this creates dependency. Sachs underestimates the history of slavery and
colonization.
Chapter 2
How does the division of labor affect society?
Adam smiths- when workers are specialized, they are more efficient. Efficient production and
markets equals prosperity for everyone, but possibility for owners to manipulate wages and
working hours. Workers are no longer, self-sufficient they become reliant on their jobs and they
cant do anything other than their specialized role.
David Ricardo- Adam smiths ideas extended internationally. Comparative advantage and world
trade equals prosperity, but small countries can become dependent on one or two products.

Emily Durkheim- Agricultural societies had solidarity because they worked together, had
common concerns. Modern societies also find solidarity because people need each other.
Structural functionalism- Do we need inequality/Poverty?
New International Division Of labor- Colonial Era (1770s) developing countries producing raw
materials. Developing countries that are producing finish goods. Offshoring (1970s)Developing farm to factory. Developed factory to office (If you get lucky). Outsourcing
(1990s)- Developing customer service, data storage/ Analysis. Developed marketing and
management.
Consequences of the New Division Of Labor- Rise of export processing zones- normal trade
barriers attract foreign investment. -U.S. wants cheap labor without immigration. More children
are at work around the world than ever before.
International monetary fun (IMF)- End of World War 2 44 allied nation set up IMF, WB, and
WTO. IMF provides policy advice and financing to members in economic difficulties. Basically
lend money.
World Bank- Main function are lending, policy advice, technical assistance. (Criticism of IMF
and WB). Structural adjustment. New form of imperialism run by a few powerful countries.
World Trade Organization (WTO)- Monitors trade practices around the world. Too many limits
on imports, which makes taxes higher. Ignores labor and environment issues. Rich countries
make exceptions for their industries (protectionism).
How do trade arrangements disadvantage poor countries? Because of secret negotiations, the
issue of subsidies, and special interests. The solution would be more representations at meetings.

What is the informal sector like in Bangkok? It is very unregulated a lot of activity that the
government doesnt have control over. It is underground that is like sex trafficking and illegal
acts.
Why do so many people work in the informal sector? Because even people with low education
can do the job. It is easily accessible to them.
What happened to low income housing in Bangkok when the economy was growing in 80s? As
land prices rose, development of low-income housing became unfeasible and slum evictions
increased. In the 90s there was a financial crisis hit and the number of people living in dire
poverty increased by more than 16 percent in 2 years.
Chapter 3
Percentages of worlds poor who are women- 70 percent of the worlds poor are women.
Sex versus gender- Sex is a biological reality and gender is a social reality.
Facts about gender inequality in the U.S.- No female presidents yet there are 104 women in
congress, which is 19%. 78% pay gap has barely changed in a decade. Women than run fewer
large companies by men names John.
Why is the stereotypical picture of the Victorian woman misleading? Because it shows that
women should just stay home and do the housework.
Why is the stereotypical picture of men as breadwinners misleading? Because it shows that men
are the only person able to go out and work and make the money.
How did WW2 change gender roles? What about after the war? And again in the 1960s and
1970s? While the men were at war, women had to take over the mens job in order to still make
income and people started to notice women can do work, but once the men came back from
WW2 the took the jobs back from the women.

Feminization of poverty-The Idea represented income poverty amongst womens.

Double Burden- is housework and labor -force the burden of two jobs (2nd shift).
Feminization of migration- More women among voluntary migrants.
What is the prevailing explanation for global disparities in infant mortality? What is wrong with
that explanation? Trade and foreign investment will provide economic development and benefits
to improve health care for all. Also some countries have better health care.
Why are women so important to child health? Because women are primary caregivers and
women are likely to use resources on basic family needs.
*In theory how do womens land, property, and loan rights affect childs health? Does Professor
Burroways empirical evidence support these claims? Land rights give crops for sale, collateral
for credit, saleable asset, food security, investment in water and sanction. Property rights give
housing security, collateral for credit, rental income, and small businesses. Loan rights have
income generating activities, mortgage, home improvement, and small businesses. These are the
reasons why it affects childs health gives shelter, income, and food. Loan right has no affect on
the theory and property rights give land and shelter so it is effective. Land rights helps grow
crops for the childs health so it is effective.
What is the difference between womens wellbeing and womens agency? How are they related
to each other? The womens agency supports the womens wellbeing and is responsible for
womens wellbeing. The active agency of women cannot, in any serious way, ignore the urgency
of many inequalities that blight the well being of women and subject them to unequal treatment.
Thus the agency role must be much concerned with the womens wellbeing aspect and agency
aspect of womens movements inevitably has as substantial intersection.

How is womens agency related to child survival and fertility? Why? Womens agency
influences works through the importance that mothers typically attach to the welfare of the
children, and the opportunity the mothers have, when their agency is respected and empowered,
to influence family decisions in that direction. The agency also reduces fertility.
Chapter 4
The good news about primary school enrollment- Enrollment in primary education in developing
countries is 90% and only 58 million remain out.
The bad news about primary school enrollment- Just enrollment not completion, and primary
school is just the beginning, and the quality of education they are getting.
Obstacles to getting everyone in school- Small and poorly equipped schools, less likely to attend
in rural areas. Urban disparities in quality such as education. Dependence on children for labor
and income, and persistent gender and racial gaps.
What should be taught? In Nigeria dozens of ethnic groups, languages, several major religions.
In Japan math and science, memorization, standardized tests less than go to college. U.S. lags
way behind in test scores, but does better in grad school and entrepreneurship. In Germany
exams and tracking starts from an early ages clearer in school to work transition.
Human Capital Theory- Education is number one key to national development, it also improves
economic productivity, just like investments in physical capital such as construction. Investing in
education is better than investing in construction but in return education are slower in some
countries. Ex. India and the problem of Brain drain which is when all the genius of India
migrates to other countries.
Relationship between economic productivity and education- Economic productivity and
education. Ex. In Nigeria education doesnt work even though economy is rising.

Solutions for improving access to education- State government the case of Kerala (India).
National government can fund for special programs and remove school fees, enforcement of laws
against child marriage and child labor. International action- nations of the developed world are
doing too little.