Sociology poverty and work

Cards (68)

  • absolute poverty
    lack of basic needs such as food, water and shelter
  • relative poverty
    being poor in comparison to the majority of people in society
  • multiple deprivation
    lacking in a number of things which are agreed upon by people other than the sociologist
  • social exclusion
    not being able to full participate in society due to a factor such as a low income or poor housing
  • environmental poverty
    when the local area is polluted or dangerous
  • deprivation index

    a list of things used to determ relative poverty
  • cultural explanation of poverty
    blames poverty on the individual's culture or behaviour
  • fatalism
    acceptance of their situation, rather than trying to change it
  • immediate gratification
    wanting rewards immediately, and not thinking of the future
  • the underclass theory

    most poverty is caused by the individual, no one in the UK should be poor as there are many jobs, but there are some people who do not want to work
  • structural explanation of poverty
    blames poverty on society or the government
  • poverty trap

    a situation where a person is stuck in poverty e.g financially worse off if they have a job becuase they will loose their benefits
  • cycle of deprivation theory

    children are born into poverty. Poverty is caused by society through low pay and poor housing
  • wealth
    ownership of assets such as property and savings
  • marketable wealth
    any asset that can be sold
  • non-marketable wealth
    an asset that cannot be sold e.g pension
  • income
    a regular flow of payment e.g wages
  • gross income
    income before deductions. Erned income such as wages and unearned income such as tax credits
  • disposable income
    gross income after deductions
  • concealment of assets
    lying about your wealth in an attempt to hide it
  • social desirability
    people with little wealth pretend they are wealthier to avoid the embarrassment caused by poverty
  • welfare state
    society where the government are responsible and provide services such as health care
  • universal benefits
    benefits given to anyone at a point of need e.g NHS
  • dependency culture

    encouraging people to rely on government handouts rather than being self-sufficient
  • means tested benefits
    only given to people who need it e.g only if income falls below a set amount
  • welfare pluralism
    using more than one institution to provide welfare to the population
  • statutory welfare provision
    welfare provided by the government e.g NHS
  • subjective poverty
    an individual's thoughts and feelings about their own wellbeing
  • informal welfare providers
    sources of care that are not organisations e.g family
  • private welfare providers
    profit making companies who charge for welfare e.g private schools
  • productive wealth
    when something you own provides an income, such as owning a property you rent out to others
  • consumption wealth

    things the owner uses e.g car
  • inheritance tax

    paid on an estate when somebody dies, doesn't have to be paid unless the property is worth £325,000 or more
  • direct tax
    taken straight from wages e.g income tax, the more you earn, the more you pay
  • indirect tax

    added to the things you buy e.g VAT
  • cash benefits
    benefits given buy the state to supplement low incomes e.g working tax credits
  • benefits in kind
    services provided by the state which are freely available e.g healthcare
  • tax avoidance
    legal schemes that financial advisors create so their clients can avoid paying tax e.g living outside of britain for a year
  • tax evasion
    when people don't declare their wealth to the inland revenue, e.g working cash in hand
  • hidden poverty
    when poverty is hidden within the family, experieced by women (feminists say)