Income Inequality As A Social Issue: Effects On Other Social Issues And Political Stability

Income inequality

Discuss about Income Inequality as a social issue and how it affects other social issues in the Country.

Over past few years, the issue of income inequality has dominated several parts of the world and Singapore is no exception. It has outpoured populist sentiments in United Kingdom, United States and different locations in Europe. To deal with this issue, Singapore government has introduced various policies and measures, like; improvement in Gini coefficient. Gini coefficient is the most used factor to measure distribution of income among the residents of country. These measures and policies have improved the situations in the country and decreased income inequality (Mukhopadhaya, 2014). This essay includes discussion about income inequality as a social issue and how it affects other social issues in the country. Furthermore, it includes key theories and concepts of sociology and political science and how the issue of income inequality can affect the political stability of country.

In today’s world, one of the most significant issues is income inequality and it causes some other social issues in the country. These issues have large impact on developed nations and affecting the country’s government and economy. Income inequality is a factor that indicates the unequal distribution of individual and household income among different individuals in a country’s economy. It is generally shown as % of income to % of country’s population. In a country, income inequality is considered as a social issue because it affects the social life of people and other related issues. In the year 1999, income equality worsened because of economic slowdown, which resulted in greater unemployment and re-employment at lower wage rate (Galor, 2009). Singapore has experienced the issue of income inequality together with the high growth. It recorded constant growth in GDP of 6% to 7% in the period of 1990s and 2000s. In the same duration, Gini coefficient increased from 0.43 to 0.47. This growth raises a question in Singapore, i.e. “is income inequality driver of growth?” Now the situation has improved and inequality was narrowed lately as compared to previous 17 years. After reading the given article, it can be stated that income instability can be considered as social issue, as it affects the social problems such as education, employment, religious and racial instability, poverty, minimum wage rate etc. It is harmful for the society as it places the population in a hierarchy that enhances status competition, causing stress and directing the people to poor health and other adverse results (Ling, 2017).

Causes of income inequality - conflict theory

For example, a major aspect of income inequality in the country is the racial bias in income groups. According to the studies, Malays in country have lowest societal bands in income distribution. Government was focused on meritocracy and created opportunity equality in education and left the results on capability of individuals. Most of the Muslims were from poor and low-educated families. They had fewer opportunities for development and they poorly performed in schools and colleges. It ultimately offered them lower paying employment opportunities. It has raised racial and religious conflicts in the country and resulted riots in multi-religious and multi-racial society of Singapore. Thus, it has created problems in society and affected their personal lives also. Furthermore, it is the major reason behind discrimination among society. There are so many nations, where there is the pay gap for men and women. In this way, income inequality is creating various social issues all over the world (Guidetti, & Rehbein, 2014).

To understand the causes of income inequality, conflict theory of sociology can be taken into consideration. Social conflict theory is a significant perspective that is given by Karl Marx. Conflict theory looks at the social life as a competition and emphasizes on distribution of power, different resources and inequality. Under this theory, Karl Marx viewed the society as a field of inequality, which generates social changes and conflict among people. First, the conflict theory states that different aspects of society come through conflict between different groups. These groups compete to develop rules and regulations of the society (Lee, & Morris, 2016). From these groups, when a particular group wins, it becomes able to take the society up in a way, which it wants. By analyzing this, it can be said that income inequality arises because of conflict between poor and rich people.

Furthermore, conflict theory states that society is a fight between the strong people and disadvantaged people. For instance, Singapore has employed the policy of meritocracy, which has provided the growth opportunities and education to the deserving people only, so that they can attain greater objectives for society. As an outcome of this, economic well-being of an individual is totally dependent on hard work and capability (Ling, 2017). According to conflict theory, this issue generated difference between hard working and marginal people and eventually it has resulted income inequality in the country. This policy in the country has influenced the social dynamics in two different ways like; labor markets in the country separated the well-paid and skilled from low-paid and unskilled people by enhancing the intelligence. The quality for credentials and educational performance has increased to higher than before. Same as labor markets, the schools in Singapore shows a strong unfairness. Education options are limited for marginal students (Dabla-Norris, Kochhar, Suphaphiphat, Ricka, & Tsounta, 2015). Thus, continuance of unequal distribution of income and social inequality produce and contribute to the social conflict among society. In this way, conflict theory of sociology states that conflict among rich and poor people and meritocracy are the major causes behind income inequality in Singapore and other countries all over the world.

Impact of income inequality on political stability - power resource theory

Labor markets in Singapore separate skilled & well-paid from the unskilled & low-paid

by increasing sharpness

ly provides education and growth

opportunities to its deserving citizens so that they achieve greater goals for the society

ly provides education and growth

opportunities to its deserving citizens so that they achieve greater goals for the society

ly provides education and growth

opportunities to its deserving citizens so that they achieve greater goals for the society

In a country, there may be various social issues, which affect the political environment of that country. To under the impact of income inequality on political stability of country, Power resource theory of political science can be taken into consideration. Power Resource Theory is a political perspective that offers an idea that the distribution of power and resources between primary classes is responsible for the success and failure of different political philosophies in the country. This theory argues that power attained from organization through labor unions generates more democratic distributional results (Dunleavy, 2014). This theory argues that higher inequality in the country is profitable for the growth as wealthier people hold the power and resources, which are necessary for the investment. Another strand of this theory shows that the way through which income inequality impacts growth is political. High income inequality creates unstable political environment. In this environment, investment is dispirited by a greater risk of expropriation and preferences of voters towards re-distributional policies. Both of these factors affect the political environment and its growth negatively (Ritzer & Stepnisky, 2017).

The theory states that union density declines the pre-tax inequality and political parties attain great reduction in inequality through transfers and taxes. In addition to political stability, income inequality in a country may affect its financial and overall economic development also. It has adverse impact on the political factors like; it increases the inequality on societal level and decreases the level of voting participation. Due to income inequality in the country, people are becoming less interested in the voting and election process (Campante, 2011). It has adverse impacts on the welfare of citizens and quality of democracy and government. Apart from this, inequality in education is the primary measure of delivering civic skills while income inequality is a measure of to what level that fundamental resources are equally distributed. Furthermore, both the education and income are argued to positively impact the people and their social network, which in turn affects the political engagement. The people, who have the disadvantages of income equality, they are becoming less interested in voting and electoral process. It affects the political environment and policies of country. Thus, these are the reasons why income inequality in the country affects its political stability. Now, the country of Singapore is creating various policies and rules to deal with the issue of income inequality and it has been successful in reducing it (Carstensen, & Schmidt, 2016).

Conclusion

From the above essay, it can be concluded that income inequality is one of the major social issues, because it impacts the social life of people and other related social issues. There are so many countries in the world, which have faced income inequality issue. It has affected the financial, social, political and economic development of a country. This essay includes the historical development of income inequality and effects of this issue on other issues like; racial and religious bias, unemployment, education and workplace and societal discrimination. There are some theories of sociology and political science, which are considered to discuss the causes of income inequality. Moreover, political theory describes how this issue affects the political stability in a country.

References

Campante, F. R. (2011) “Redistribution in a Model of Voting and Campaign Contributions” Journal of Public Economics, 95(7-8): 646-656.

Carstensen, M. B., & Schmidt, V. A. (2016). Power through, over and in ideas: conceptualizing ideational power in discursive institutionalism. Journal of European Public Policy, 23(3), 318-337.

Dabla-Norris, M. E., Kochhar, M. K., Suphaphiphat, M. N., Ricka, M. F., & Tsounta, E. (2015). Causes and consequences of income inequality: A global perspective. International Monetary Fund.

Dunleavy, P. (2014). Democracy, bureaucracy and public choice: Economic approaches in political science. London, Routledge Publications.  

Galor, O. (2009) “Inequality and Economic Development: An Overview ” Mimeo.

Guidetti, G., & Rehbein,. B., (2014). Theoretical Approaches to Inequality in Economics and Sociology. A Preliminary Assessment. Transcience. 5. (1).

Lee, M., & Morris, P. (2016). Lifelong learning, income inequality and social mobility in Singapore. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 35(3), 286-312.

Ling, S. (2017). Commentary: Active government oversight has reduced Singapore's income inequality, retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/commentary-active-government-oversight-has-reduced-singapore-s-8937984 (Accessed on 10 February 2018)

Mukhopadhaya, P. (2014). Income inequality in Singapore. London, Routledge Publications.

Ritzer, G., & Stepnisky, J. (2017). Modern sociological theory. California, SAGE Publications.