Chapter 10
Global Stratification

Chapter Outline
 Global Stratification
 Theories of Global Stratification
 Consequences of Global Stratification
 World Poverty
 The Future of Global Stratification

Global Stratification
 Measures of well-being reveal consequences of a global system of inequality:
 life expectancy
 infant mortality
 access to health services

Rich and Poor

Polling Question
 Terrorism is more likely to take place in the wealthy nations.
A.) Strongly agree
B.) Agree somewhat
C.) Unsure
D.) Disagree somewhat
E.) Strongly disagree

Factory Wages: Airing the
Dirty Laundry

Per Capita Gross National
Income


Measures the total output of goods and services produced by residents of a country each year plus the income from nonresident sources, divided by the size of the population.
This does not truly reflect what individuals or families receive in wages or pay; it is simply each person’s annual share of their country’s income were the proceeds shared equally.

Cost to Produce a Dress

The Rich and the Poor: A
World View

The Core and Periphery
 The countries of the world can be divided into three levels:
 Core countries
 Semi-peripheral countries
 Peripheral countries

Modernization Theory
 To develop, countries must embrace new technologies and market driven values.
 Poverty results from adherence to traditional values and customs that prevent competition in a modern global economy.

Dependency Theory
 Exploits the least powerful nations to the benefit of wealthier nations.
 Poverty of low-income countries is a direct result of their political and economic dependence on the wealthy countries.

World Systems Theory
 Economic development is explained by understanding each country’s place and role in the world economic system.
 Poverty is the result of core nations extracting labor and natural resources from peripheral nations.

Consequences of Global
Stratification: Population
 60% of people live in countries with an average income of less than $760/year.
 The richest countries have only 15% of the world’s population.
 As countries develop, fertility levels decrease and population growth levels off.

Quality of Life: A
Comparative Perspective
Afghanistan
Iran
Mexico
U.S.
Life
Expectancy
43
69
73
77 years
Access to safe water
13%
95%
86%
100%

Consequences of Global
Stratification: Health
High income countries have:
 Lower childhood death rates.
 Higher life expectancies.
 Fewer children born underweight.
 Clean water and adequate sanitation.

AIDS: A Problem for Women and Children

Who Uses the World’s
Energy?

Access to Safe Water and
Sanitation

Consequences of Global
Stratification: Education


In the richest nations, education and literacy are almost universal.
18% of the world’s nations have literacy rates below 50%.
 6% report a school enrollment rate below
50%.

Consequences of Global
Stratification: Gender
 Around the world, women feel poverty more than men do.
 Women in wealthier countries have better health and education than women in poorer countries.

Polling Question
 Women do most of the day- to-day work in developing countries.
A.) Strongly agree
B.) Agree somewhat
C.) Unsure
D.) Disagree somewhat
E.) Strongly disagree

Human Poverty Index
 Meant to indicate the degree of deprivation in 4 basic dimensions of human life:
 A long and healthy life
 Knowledge
 Economic well-being
 Social inclusion

Human Poverty Index:
Developing Countries
 In developing countries, the following indicators are used:
 % of people not expected to live to age 40
 adult literacy rate
 proportion of people lacking access to health services and safe water
 % of children under 5 who are moderately or severely underweight

Human Poverty Index:
Industrialized Countries
 In industrialized countries, the following indicators are used:
 proportion of people not expected to live to age 60
 the adult functional illiteracy rate
 the incidence of income poverty
 long-term unemployment rates

Who Are the World’s Poor?


28% of the world’s population live in extreme poverty.
Women constitute 60% of the word’s population, perform 2/3 of all working hours, receive 1/10 of the income, and own less than 1% of the world’s wealth.

The Digital Divide

Child Poverty in Wealthier
Nations

Quick Quiz

1. The measure most commonly used to determine the wealth of nations is the: a. gross domestic product b. human poverty index c. gender development index d. per capita gross national index

Answer: d
 The measure most commonly used to determine the wealth of nations is the per capita gross national index .

2. Countries that control and profit the most from the world system are called: a. peripheral countries b. semiperipheral countries c. core countries d. second-world countries

Answer: c
 Countries that control and profit the most from the world system are called core countries .

3. According to the modernization theory, poverty results from: a. adherence to traditional values and customs that prevent societies from competing b. rich nations exploiting the natural resources of poor nations with their approval c. core nations extracting labor and natural resources from peripheral nations d. the dependence of low-income countries on wealthy nations

Answer: a
 According to the modernization theory, poverty results from adherence to traditional values and customs that prevent societies from competing .

4. A measure of poverty, meant to indicate the degree of deprivation in basic dimensions of human life is called: a. per capita gross national product b. gross domestic product c. gender development index d. human poverty index

Answer: d
 A measure of poverty, meant to indicate the degree of deprivation in basic dimensions of human life is called human poverty index .

5. The systematic inequalities between and among different nations are referred to as
_________________ .

Answer: Global stratification
 The systematic inequalities between and among different nations are referred to as global stratification .

6. _________________ argues that the level of economic development is explained by understanding each country's place and role in the world economic system.

Answer: World Systems
Theory
 World Systems Theory argues that the level of economic development is explained by understanding each country's place and role in the world economic system.