Income Inequality and Social Stratification

About the Book

Rapid technological advances in communication, data processing, and transportation, have made possible the integration of global markets on an unprecedented scale. The world has become smaller, our days have become shorter, and competition between fi rms and across nations has intensifi ed. The economic forces set in motion by globalization have blurred national boundaries and rendered concepts such as “Made in America” utterly meaningless. And yet, ironically, as the economic ties that bind us pull us closer together, we become increasingly aware of the vast gulf that separates us. The world’s citizens, many of whom have grown up watching American television and listening to American music, can not help but notice the tremendous differences that separate nations. We conduct business in virtual meetings and communicate instantaneously over immense distances, but are becoming increasingly insulated from one another by the technology that fuels our interaction. This is the world in which we live today. But income inequality and social stratification are not new to the 21st century—they have existed in all cultures, countries, and stages of economic development. This volume draws together a collection of classical readings from economics, political science, sociology, and philosophy to shed light on the fundamental nature of diversity in society. From Adam Smith to Thorstein Veblen, from Milton Friedman to Karl Marx, and from Henry Thoreau to W. E. B. Du Bois, these selections will challenge your thinking on important social problems that continue to command national and international attention.

About the Author

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