Wealth Inequality (GRADED DISCUSSION)

Watch the following videos:

Write 4 paragraphs answering the following questions:

• Describe the extent of income and wealth inequality in the USA today.
• Why has wealth inequality increased in the USA in the last 40 years?
• Is wealth inequality a social problem? Why?
• Are you using an objective or a subjective view of inequality?

The Gender Wage Gap (GRADED DISCUSSION)

Review the following sources:

Write 4 paragraphs answering the following questions:

• Describe the extent of the gender wage gap in the USA.
• Why does the gender gap exist?
• Is the gender pay gap a social problem? Objective or subjective?
• Identify one mechanism to reduce the gender wage gap.

Write 5 paragraphs answering the following questions:

• What is the “racial wealth gap?” Describe the extend of racialized wealth inequality in the US.
• Is racialized wealth inequality a social problem in the USA? Why? Are you using an objective or subjective definition of a social problem?
• Explain the historical roots of the wealth inequality between African-Americans and White-Americans.
• How does racialized wealth inequality relate to other racial inequalities in the USA?
• Identify and explain 2 ways of reducing the racial wealth gap.

You must use a minimum of 3 of the following sources of information:

Wealth Inequality (GRADED DISCUSSION)

Watch the following videos:

Write 4 paragraphs answering the following questions:

• Describe the extent of income and wealth inequality in the USA today.
• Why has wealth inequality increased in the USA in the last 40 years?
• Is wealth inequality a social problem? Why?
• Are you using an objective or a subjective view of inequality?

Write 5 paragraphs of at least 100 words each answering the following questions:

1. Who are and ?
2. What social problems have Rios and Prieto studied?
3. Describe the research methodology used for their research paper about “mano dura-mano suave.”
4. What is the problem with “stop-and-frisk?” Summarize the findings of their study “Mano Suave-Mano Dura”
5. Was their methodology scientific? Why?

You must list all the sources consulted when preparing your answer, in or format.

You are required to use the following sources:

Rios, Victor M., Greg Prieto and Jonathan M. Ibarra (2020). “” in American Sociological Review, Vol 85(1) 58-75.

Workers Exploitation (GRADED DISCUSSION)

Watch the following short video:

Read the following article:

Write 4 paragraphs answering the following questions:

• Is the exploitation of workers a social problem? Why?
• Does Robert Reich use an objective or subjective view of the social problem? Explain your answer.
• Which sociological theory is he using to frame his arguments?
• Do you agree with him? Why?

This week we are looking at what type of questions we, as comparative politics examine, what makes a good theory in explaining these questions, and how to set up a research design. You have looked at two famous studies “Why Nations Fail” and “Guns, Germs, and Steel” which use the comparative method to attempt to provide answers to big and difficult questions, specifically why are some countries more successful than others.

For this discussion I want you to look at Acemoglu and Robinson’s Why Nations Fail and identify what are the variables of the study? The Dependent Variable is the political phenomena being explained and the independent variables are those factors that explain the specific political phenomena (outcome). In other words what explains the differences in outcomes (wealth, development, rule of law, etc). Do you agree with their argument overall, why or why not?

Okay, for this week, we have a short writing assignment that asks you to read Why Nation’s Fail and listen to his lecture and identify what his research question is, and what are his causal variables. We are building on the work of the previous weeks in identify how political scientists think about their research. Ultimately, what is his argument as to why some nations are more successful than others?

In 3 double-space pages I want you to (1) identify Robinson’s argument and (2) do you agree with him, why or why not? To be successful, you need to identify Robinson’s terms and clearly identify his argument citing the reading or the lecture video. Second, I want to see your voices come through. You are not graded on whether you agree or disagree, but on the quality of your argument. Do you think his variables are sufficient to explain why there is liberty and freedom in some countries but not others? Are they missing something? Or are they correct? What matters is that you justify why you are making the argument you are making. Now, the literature on democracy is vast, and more vast, and we are starting out this discussion, so don’t feel overwhelmed or like you might be missing something. The debate over democracy goes back to the beginning of political time, and we have been debating it since Aristotle. I just want to know what you think!

Okay, for this week, we have a short writing assignment that asks you to read Why Nation’s Fail and listen to his lecture and identify what his research question is, and what are his causal variables. We are building on the work of the previous weeks in identify how political scientists think about their research. Ultimately, what is his argument as to why some nations are more successful than others?

In 3 double-space pages I want you to (1) identify Robinson’s argument and (2) do you agree with him, why or why not? To be successful, you need to identify Robinson’s terms and clearly identify his argument citing the reading or the lecture video. Second, I want to see your voices come through. You are not graded on whether you agree or disagree, but on the quality of your argument. Do you think his variables are sufficient to explain why there is liberty and freedom in some countries but not others? Are they missing something? Or are they correct? What matters is that you justify why you are making the argument you are making. Now, the literature on democracy is vast, and more vast, and we are starting out this discussion, so don’t feel overwhelmed or like you might be missing something. The debate over democracy goes back to the beginning of political time, and we have been debating it since Aristotle. I just want to know what you think!

This week we are looking at what type of questions we, as comparative politics examine, what makes a good theory in explaining these questions, and how to set up a research design. You have looked at two famous studies “Why Nations Fail” and “Guns, Germs, and Steel” which use the comparative method to attempt to provide answers to big and difficult questions, specifically why are some countries more successful than others.

For this discussion I want you to look at Acemoglu and Robinson’s Why Nations Fail and identify what are the variables of the study? The Dependent Variable is the political phenomena being explained and the independent variables are those factors that explain the specific political phenomena (outcome). In other words what explains the differences in outcomes (wealth, development, rule of law, etc). Do you agree with their argument overall, why or why not?