Thème : Faire société

Synthèse cours Égalités et Inégalités

Principles of equality and inequality

The World Social Report 2020 published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
shows that income inequality has increased in most developed countries, and some middle-
income countries- including China, which has the world's fastest growing economy. The
richest 1% of the population are the big winners in the changing global economy, increasing
their share of income between 1990 and 2015, while at the other end of the scale, the bottom
40% earned less than a quarter of income in all countries surveyed. Between countries, the
difference in average incomes is reducing, with China and other Asian nations driving growth
in the global economy. Nevertheless, there are still stark differences between the richest and
poorest countries and regions: the average income in North America, for example is 16 times
higher than that of people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Overview of equality and inequality in the USA and the UK

In America and the UK, equality refers to the belief that all individuals should have equal
rights and opportunities, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or
other characteristics. This includes equal access to education, employment, housing, and
healthcare, as well as protection from discrimination and harassment.

Inequality, on the other hand, refers to the unequal distribution of resources and
opportunities among different groups in society. This can manifest in many forms, such as
economic inequality (where some individuals have much more wealth and access to
resources than others) or social inequality, where certain groups (minorities, women for
instance) are disadvantaged in terms of education, employment, access to healthcare and
other opportunities.

In America, the principle of equality is enshrined in the Constitution of the United States and
various laws and regulations, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with
Disabilities Act.

However, despite these legal protections, inequality persists in many areas of American
society. For example, there are significant disparities in wealth and income between
different racial and ethnic groups, and discrimination against marginalized groups, such as
people of colour and women remains a persistent question in areas such as housing,
education, and employment.

According to an article published in The Guardian on 25 February 2020: "The gap between
the best and worst paid people in Britain is greater than previously thought." However, a
journalist in USA Today points out that :" Though the United Kingdom has one of the
widest gaps between rich and poor residents, the country is doing more than any other on
this list to reduce this inequality”.
Factors that explain inequality.
Several factors can be put forward: inequalities may have geographical, social. gender. physical,
religious or ethnic origins. They may be linked to institutionalized discriminatory systems (against
women in Iran for instance), economic circumstances, political orientations or life's mishaps.
Four global forces are particularly powerful: technological innovation, climate change (in poor
countries), urbanization and international migration. While technological innovation can support
economic growth, offering new possibilities in fields such as health care. education, communication
and productivity, it can also lead to increased wage inequality, job suppressions and unemployment.
The climate crisis is having a negative impact on quality of life, and vulnerable populations are bearing
the brunt of environmental degradation and extreme weather events. This is happening in India or
Pakistan for instance, with floods in cities and droughts in rural areas.
Although cities drive economic growth, they are more unequal than rural areas. with the extremely
wealthy living alongside the very poor.
Although international migration can benefit migrants. their countries of origin and their host
countries, low-skilled workers are at a disadvantage, as we saw in the case study on London..

Inequality in education: the key?

Most sociologists underline that pupils educated in private schools known as independent
schools, rather than state schools, have better opportunities. They do better on their
exams and are accepted at more prestigious universities. As a 2019 Guardian article says:
"The proportion of prominent people in every area who have been educated privately
is striking. From judges (74% privately educated) through to MPs (32%), the numbers tell
us of a society where bought educational privilege also buys lifetime privilege and
influence." In other words, attending a private school from the start gives children a huge
advantage. Since you have to pay fees to attend these schools, some people claim that
schools perpetuate inequalities from generation to generation.

The American Policy Institute explains that in the US the problem is the same: "Extensive
research has conclusively demonstrated that children’s social class is one of the most
significant predictors of their educational success. "In a report on education inequalities
in the US, the Brookings Institution adds that: "educational experiences for minority
students have continued to be substantially separate and unequal". In other words,
minority students do not have the same educational opportunities."

How can inequality be solved?

Equal access to opportunities

Some strategies for making countries more egalitarian include the promotion of equal access to
opportunities (through, for example. universal access to education); fiscal policies that include
measures for social policies, such as unemployment and disability benefits; and legislation that
tackles prejudice and discrimination, while promoting greater participation of disadvantaged groups

Economic and social

Countries can redistribute wealth using personal income taxes, workers' social security
contributions, and cash transfers." (U.S.A. Today, May 28, 2019).

The issues of redistribution of wealth and income inequality often come up in American
politics as well. The 2015 Nobel Prize winner in economics says that "The US holds the
unenviable title as the world’s most unequal rich country, at least in terms of income".
A New York Times journalist explains that: "The expanding gap between rich and poor is
not only widening. It is helping the rich lead longer lives, while cutting short the lives of
those who are struggling" (The New York Times, Sept. 10, 2019). This means that in the US
if you are wealthy, you live longer.

Analysts suggest a whole list of policies to reduce inequalities : increase the minimum
wage or replace it with a living wage, set up universal basic income,

Healthcare
Unlike in the UK access to healthcare in the US is difficult if you do not have a job that
provides health insurance or if you cannot afford to pay for health insurance yourself.
Obama, after he was elected, tried to fix this problem with The Affordable Care Act, also
known as "Obamacare" (affordable care act today). However, many people opposed it and
President Trump wanted to get rid of Obamacre. after the war gave birth to the National
Health System (1948), a public hospital system.

Education
Many analysts see education as a key to solving the problem of inequality: invest in
education and many more. Introducing scholarships or adopting affirmative action
(positive discrimination) are also under debate.

Equal access of outcome?

Efforts to address inequality in America include affirmative action (positive discrimination)

programs to increase diversity in education and the workplace, as well as legislation and
policies aimed at reducing discrimination and promoting social and economic justice.
However, the ongoing debate on some of these policies and the political divide on how to
address inequality.

More recently, the issue of equality outcome (affirmative action or positive discrimination)
has been strongly debated in the UK and USA. Conservatives and Liberals believe this will
harm society whereas the left believe it is necessary to redress imbalances and foster social
justice.

• gap : fossé
• worst paid : les moins bien payés
• wide : grand
• wealth : richesse
• income tax : impôt sur le revenu
• to cut short : réduire la durée
• to struggle : lutter, avoir du mal
• health care : système de santé
• health insurance : assurance santé
• to afford : avoir les moyens (financiers)
• to get rid of : se débarrasser de
• to account for : justifier, expliquer
• striking : frappant
• fees : droits de scolarité
• to attend school : aller à l'école
• a policy : une politique (une mesure)
• minimum wage : salaire minimum
• living wage : revenu qui permet de vivre décemment