Executive Summary
Social inequality is a complex phenomenon involving numerous factors and causes. The paper examines the essence of social inequality by analyzing its basic conditions. In particular, it examines poverty, inequality of access to health insurance, and the living conditions of the middle and lower classes. Moreover, the possibility of taxing the rich is of particular interest in the light of which both positive and negative aspects are highlighted. Social inequality needs to be reduced, and policy and a focus on quality education may be the way to solve the global problem.
Introduction
A distinctive feature of modern society is its differences in national, social, demographic, class, gender, religious, material, and numerous other characteristics. Social distinctions lead to various income levels having diverse property, power, prestige, education, and status achievement. Therefore, it is essential to find out which means can solve this problem and how society, business, and politics can influence it. Homelessness and disparities in access to work, housing, and insurance are all consequences of inequality that can be prevented by changing political discourse.
Homelessness Crisis
Homelessness is caused by a totality of different environmental and personal factors, and it requires a comprehensive approach. In connection with that indifferent or negative attitude to homelessness, which is observed by society and the state, the development of rehabilitation programs is difficult. It is necessary to develop a complex approach combining the development of social services and federal programs, including people without registration in operating social institutes and preventing the marginalization of homeless people (City of Santa Barbara, 2023). It should not be limited to the provision of social services. Measures should be taken to return people without housing to normal life, to help them regain social status, and to carry out prevention by eliminating the causes of homelessness.
Insurance Issues and the Life of the Middle Class
There are quite effective health insurance models and systems around the world. At the same time, for the most part, the health insurance system in the United States is organized voluntarily, and each citizen bears the cost of paying for insurance on their own (Commonwealth Club of California, 2014). Citizens with a steady income can buy insurance, but low-income individuals experience great difficulty. Most Americans are privately insured by their employers, but about 15% of the population does not have access to health insurance (Clouston et al., 2021). It includes the low-income, the unemployed, and the homeless.
Moreover, the life of the middle class has not been easy for several years, and numerous people are now surviving rather than living. People are forced to work several jobs, devastatingly affecting their physical and psychological health (Willis et al., 2022). Furthermore, working hours are increasing, often exceeding the norm.
Both men and women are forced to devote all their resources to long and hard employment, not for the good life, but simply not to die. More and more individuals are becoming indebted or are using their last savings to buy necessities (Willis et al., 2022). The situation of the middle class is worsening, but people in the lower classes are in even worse conditions.
Lower and Higher Class Citizens
Lower-class citizens have practically no chance to occupy a well-paid position. According to the research, their quality of life dramatically worsens yearly (Grusky, 2019). At the same time, the rate of life of rich people is growing, which raises the question of the need to change the tax policy. Against the background of the rapid growth of dividend payments, which is 2008-2019 exceeded the growth of wages by 3.2 times, the aggregate value of the property of the richest 10% of the population has increased by 70% (Clouston et al., 2021).
To overcome such glaring inequality in the world, it is necessary to introduce an international tax on the property of the super-rich. According to the researchers, this will allow national budgets to receive an additional $1.7 trillion annually, enough to bring about 3 billion people worldwide out of poverty (Grusky, 2019). At the same time, even equally high taxes in most of the world will not eliminate the unequal distribution of wealth among countries as such.
Reflection
As long as there are richer and more powerful people, there will always be an incentive for others to increase their wealth. It will naturally lead to a reduction in social inequality. The only question is how equally the opportunities for wealth and social advancement are distributed among different population segments.
It is necessary to emphasize not only and not that much on equal income distribution as fair access to education and equal liberties in realizing human rights. That is to give all people the same opportunity for self-realization to receive a return on their efforts. The main thing is the voluntary desire of people and companies to increase social responsibility. It is important to support citizens’ initiatives to do charity and encourage companies to help and support the socially unprotected population segments.
Conclusion
Over the last decade, inequality has become one of the most complex and intractable problems in the global economy. For all the political complexity of reforms, the returns to growth and productivity are worth the effort. Addressing inequality requires new approaches, and social spending policies are becoming increasingly relevant to overcoming inequality. If handled skillfully, they can play a decisive role in reducing income inequality and its negative consequences regarding inequality of opportunity and weakened social cohesion.
References
City of Santa Barbara. (2023). Homelessness Initiatives. Web.
Commonwealth Club of California. (2014). Robert Reich: Inequality for All (11/20/13) [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Clouston, S. A., Natale, G., & Link, B. G. (2021). Socioeconomic inequalities in the spread of coronavirus-19 in the United States: A examination of the emergence of social inequalities. Social Science & Medicine, 268, 113554. Web.
Grusky, D. (2019). Social stratification, class, race, and gender in sociological perspective. Routledge.
Willis, G. B., García-Sánchez, E., Sánchez-Rodríguez, Á., García-Castro, J. D., & Rodríguez-Bailón, R. (2022). The psychosocial effects of economic inequality depend on its perception. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1(5), 301-309. Web.