Question

1. Using conflict perspective, discuss the causes of poverty and recommend two policy responses.

Answer 1

Conflict perspective emphasis the social, political or material inequalities.The causes of poverty are asfollows:

a)Little or no access to jobs or livelyhood, inconsistent work and low paying jobs can land a family in poverty, absolutely no work means a family cant get by without assistance.

b)Inequality, in the world, from economic to social inequalities like gender,caste or tribal affiliations.Unequal or no access to the resources needed to keep or lift a family out of poverty.

c)Poor education,most of the extremely poor ones in the world are illiterate.

Two Policies responses: i) National minimum wage, is an effective way of increasing the income of the low paid and therefore reducing wage inequality. ii) Increasing benefits to the poor by providing universal tax credit, food stamps, child benefits, benefits in kind etc.