scholarly journals The hyperopia of wealth: the cultural legitimation of economic inequalities by top earners

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Kuusela
Keyword(s):  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Economic Disparities ◽  
Attitudes And Perceptions ◽  
The World ◽  
Cultural Repertoires ◽  
Economic Inequalities

Abstract The article explores the attitudes and perceptions of those at the top of the income scale toward economic inequalities. Through a qualitativecase study, it presents how a group of top 0.1% of earners in Finland—one of the most equal countries in the world—perceive and legitimize economic disparities in an era of rising inequalities. By drawing together studies of economic inequality with the sociology of elites, the article analyzes the cultural repertoires through which the top earners make sense of inequality. As its key finding, it introduces the concept of hyperopia of wealth to describe the discursive blindness that the wealthy respondents have toward the structural conditions of economic disparities. The results indicate that top earners have a tendency to either ignore or approve the existing inequalities while disregarding the role of the wealthy and wealth in the dynamics. This blindness is named as hyperopia of wealth, analogous to a condition in which one cannot see things that are close clearly.

Human Rights and Economic Inequalities

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Economic Equality ◽  
The Past ◽  
The World ◽  
Economic Inequalities

Economic inequalities are among the greatest human rights challenges the world faces today due to the past four decades of neoliberal policy dominance. Globally, there are now over 2,000 billionaires, while 3.4 billion people live below the poverty line of US $5.50 per day. Many human rights scholars and practitioners read these statistics with alarm, asking what impact such extreme inequalities have on realizing human rights and what role, if any, should human rights have in challenging them? This edited volume examines these questions from multiple disciplinary perspectives, seeking to uncover the relationships between human rights and economic inequalities, and the barriers and pathways to greater economic equality and full enjoyment of human rights for all. The volume is a unique contribution to the emerging literature on human rights and economic inequality, as it is interdisciplinary, global in reach and extends to several under-researched areas in the field.

scholarly journals WAYS OF OVERCOMING SOCIAL INEQUALITY BY THE KAZAKH NOMADS IN THE BOOK OF ABAI KUNANBAEV “THE WORDS OF EDIFICATION”

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 368-370
Author(s):  
Kulush Kenzhegaliev
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Social Inequality ◽  
Karl Marx ◽  
Adam Smith ◽  
Economic Theories ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
Economic Inequalities

This article considers the role of Russian and other languages toward the wealth of Kazakh nomads in the book of Kazakh educator, region ruler, and sultan Abai Kunanbaev. It reveals the progressiveness of his ideas of studying Russian in overcoming socio-economic inequalities in comparison with the Kazakhs, the Russians, the Uzbeks, and the Tatars. Comparative analysis of Abai’s economic ideas with economic theories of Adam Smith and Karl Marx shows the limitations of Abai’s ideas. The lack of goods production has left a definite imprint on Abai’s ideas.In modern Kazakhstan, Abai’s ideas received new qualitative development in overcoming socio-economic inequalities of the people of Kazakhstan in the world.

scholarly journals Capacity Building in Public Sector Organisations

1999 ◽  
Vol 38 (4II) ◽  
pp. 913-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seemi Waheed
Keyword(s):  
Living Condition ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
Economic Disparities ◽  
Egalitarian Society ◽  
The World ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Major Transformation ◽  
The Masses

During the last two decades the world has experienced a major transformation in thinking on the role of government in provision of services and socio-economic development. This change in thinking has come about as a result of the inability of two major philosophies of production—capitalism and socialism—to redistribute resources for the improvement in the living condition of the masses. Both the philosophies have shortcomings. Capitalism encourages entrepreneurship and growth, but it also creates extreme economic disparities leading to poverty. Socialism in its attempt to create an egalitarian society curbs and stifles entrepreneurship, leading to discontentment and economic inefficiencies.

scholarly journals The Language of Inequality: Evidence Economic Inequality Increases Wealth Category Salience

2021 ◽  
pp. 014616722110366
Author(s):  
Kim Peters ◽  
Jolanda Jetten ◽  
Porntida Tanjitpiyanond ◽  
Zhechen Wang ◽  
Frank Mols ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
News Media ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
The United States ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The World ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
The Rich

There is evidence that in more economically unequal societies, social relations are more strained. We argue that this may reflect the tendency for wealth to become a more fitting lens for seeing the world, so that in economically more unequal circumstances, people more readily divide the world into “the haves” and “have nots.” Our argument is supported by archival and experimental evidence. Two archival analyses reveal that at times of greater inequality, books in the United Kingdom and the United States and news media in English-speaking countries were more likely to mention the rich and poor. Three experiments, two preregistered, provided evidence for the causal role of economic inequality in people’s use of wealth categories when describing life in a fictional society; effects were weaker when examining real economic contexts. Thus, one way in which inequality changes the world may be by changing how we see it.

Socio-Economic Inequality and Cultural Fragmentation in Western Societies

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-214
Author(s):  
Jan Germen Janmaat
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
The Other ◽  
Democratic Values ◽  
World Value Survey ◽  
Democratic Attitudes ◽  
The World ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Economic Inequalities

AbstractThis article examines the relation between socio-economic inequality and disparities of democratic values in Western societies. It discusses three perspectives on democratic attitudes and values – rising inequality, social capital, and postmaterialism – and explores to what extent cross-national patterns and trends in value disparities are in agreement with the predicted outcomes of these perspectives. Use is made of the World Value Survey and the European Value Study to explore these value disparities. The results do not provide unequivocal support for any of the three perspectives. The patterns on some values are in line with the rising inequality perspective, while those on others are consistent with the other two perspectives. Low and high incomes have come to drift apart on democratic values, which is what the rising inequalities perspective would expect. But these widening disparities are unrelated to socio-economic inequalities. It is proposed that socio-economic inequalities primarily affect mean levels of democratic values while individualism is the key factor producing value divergence.

Beyond neoliberalism: Reflections on capitalism and education

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J Klees
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
World Bank ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
Economic Inequalities

Education within capitalism too often reproduces social and economic inequalities. Schools are depicted as failing and teachers are blamed. In this paper, I examine the discourses underlying this situation and the role of foundations in the US and the World Bank in developing countries in maintaining it. I look at the neoliberal remedy of privatization and the fundamental problems with capitalism. In conclusion, I consider alternatives to capitalism and within education.

scholarly journals Did economic inequality cause the economic crisis

2014 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-387
Author(s):  
Danilo Sukovic
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Central Question ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Political Decision ◽  
Distribution Of Wealth ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Economic Inequalities

The sudden and large increase of interest in questions of distribution of wealth and economic inequality, arising in recent years, resulted primarily from the enormous increase in inequality that occurred during the last three decades. The global economic crisis that emerged in 2008 gave a new impetus to this research because numerous scientific studies appeared in which inequalities were given as one of the key causes of the crisis from which the world is slowly recovering. This is especially true in Europe, whose recovery is barely discernible. This paper analyzes the trends of economic inequality and points to the impact of inequality on economic growth. The central question in this paper, however, is whether the economic inequalities caused the economic crisis. Although opinions differ as to inequality?s impact on the occurrence of the crisis, the fact is that enormous economic inequalities, and especially their permanent growth, could have many negative effects, such as increasing poverty, increasing social stratification and causing global economic crises. As many authors have pointed out, escalating inequality is not an inevitable price of progress. On the contrary, it is a political decision that often has expensive ramifications.

scholarly journals People's consciousness in Nagarjuna's poem

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 159-161
Author(s):  
Reena Agrawal
Keyword(s):  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Economic Disparity ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
Ancient Times

The term democracy is the Hindi version of English democracy, for which the words democracy, democracy, democracy etc. are also used, which means - a mechanism or system in which the people have sovereignty. It is an undeniable truth that economic inequality is the root of all difficulties. Due to this, the world is deranged and frustrated and for this reason, since ancient times in India, mystics dreamed to remove the economic disparity between humans. Democracy is one such vision in which workers, peasants and helpless victims come together to play the role of their true partner. जनवाद शब्द अंग्रेजी के डेमोक्रेसी का हिंदी प्रतिरूप है, जिसके लिए जनतंत्र, लोकतंत्र, लोकशाही आदि शब्दों का भी प्रयोग किया जाता है, जिसका अर्थ है - एक ऐसा तंत्र या व्यवस्था जिसमें जनता की संप्रभुता हो।यह निर्विवाद सत्य है कि आर्थिक विषमता सभी कठिनाइयों की जड़ हैं। इसके कारण संसार विश्रृंखलित एवं कंुठित होता है और इसी कारण भारत में प्राचीन काल से ही मनीषियों ने मानव-मानव के मध्य आर्थिक विषमता को दूर करने का स्वप्न देखा। जनवाद एक ऐसी ही दृष्टि है जिसमें मजदूरों, किसानों, असहाय पीड़ितों को एक जुट कर उनके सच्चे साथी की भूमिका निभाती है।

scholarly journals PENINGKATAN KUALITAS HIDUP MASYARAKAT MELALUI PEMETAAN KAPASITAS DAN KONDISI SOSIAL DI LINGKUNGAN DESA TANJUNG KECAMATAN CIPUNAGARA KABUPATEN SUBANG

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Sri Rijati Wardiani ◽  
Mega Subekti ◽  
Tania Intan
Keyword(s):  
Public Education ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Economic Disparities ◽  
Work Experience Program

ABSTRACTOne of the classic problems that causes economic disparities is the uneven access to public education. Besides, the fundamental role of education is still not influential in efforts to improve people's living standard. Economic disparities also sharpen the gap between classes of society that has been formed, between the educated (well-educated) and less educated (non-educated). Assimilation was difficult to do in between these two groups. Institution that responsible to this issue is the Ministry of Education, because education is equipped to face the challenges of civilization in all fields. Universities also respond to this obligation by organizing Student Field Work Experience program (KKNM). These activities are designed in such way so that students can recognize and identify patterns that developed in the community, not just in terms of education, but also in other areas such as economics and livelihoods, social, cultural, and others.Keywords: economic inequality, education, the pattern of community lifeABSTRAKSalah satu masalah klasik yang menjadi penyebab kesenjangan ekonomi adalah belum meratanya akses pendidikan kepada masyarakat. Selain itu peran fundamental pendidikan juga masih dirasa belum cukup berpengaruh dalam upaya meningkatkan taraf hidup rakyat. Kesenjangan ekonomi pun mempertajam jarak di antara kelas masyarakat yang sudah terbentuk, antara kaum terdidik (well-educated) dan kurang terdidik (non-educated). Pembauran pun sulit dilakukan di antara dua kelompok ini. Institusi yang paling bertanggung jawab dalam menangani isu ini adalah Kementrian Pendidikan, karena pendidikan merupakan bekal untuk menghadapi tantangan peradaban di semua bidang. Perguruan Tinggi pun merespon panggilan kewajiban ini dengan menyelenggarakan program Kuliah Kerja Nyata Mahasiswa (KKNM). Kegiatan ini dirancang dengan sedemikian rupa dengan tujuan agar mahasiswa dapat lebih mengenal dan mengidentifikasi pola-pola yang berkembang di masyarakat, bukan hanya segi pendidikan, namun juga bidang-bidang lain seperti ekonomi dan mata pencaharian, sosial, budaya, dan lain-lain.Kata Kunci: kesenjangan ekonomi, pendidikan, pola kehidupan masyarakat 

scholarly journals How Fair is Economic Inequality? Belief in a Just World and the Legitimation of Economic Disparities in 27 European Countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 014616722110023
Author(s):  
Efraín García-Sánchez ◽  
Isabel Correia ◽  
Cícero R. Pereira ◽  
Guillermo B. Willis ◽  
Rosa Rodríguez-Bailón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Wealth Inequality ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Multilevel Analyses ◽  
Just World ◽  
Perceived Fairness ◽  
Economic Disparities ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Using Data

This article aims to examine the role of Belief in a Just World (BJW) in the legitimation of economic inequality. Using data from 27 European countries ( N=47,086), we conducted multilevel analyses and found that BJW positively predicted the legitimation of economic inequality, measured by three indicators: the perceived fairness of the overall wealth inequality, and the fairness of the earnings made by the Top 10% and the Bottom 10% of society. These results persisted after controlling for individual- and country-level variables. Moreover, the BJW effect was stronger on the legitimation of the Bottom 10% incomes, compared to the legitimation of the Top 10%. We also found that economic inequality at the country-level reduced the BJW effect on legitimation of inequality. Finally, BJW displayed a negative indirect effect on support for redistribution, via the legitimation of economic inequalities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document