Question

1) Describe the ways and why the United States has lagged behind 20 other industrialized nations in income equality and at least one other social welfare advocacy policy.

2) What social investments would you advocate for to shore up these disparities with other nations?

Answer 1

USA though counted in the list of super powers of the world, is lagging behind in one of the most important aspact of a nation which is the nation'sn income equality. US is around nearly lagging behind 20 countries in income equality. There are numerous reasons which have led to so muvh income inequality in the nations. Some reasons i am mentioning below:-

(1) Lack of political power among the bulk of population

Goverment policies in USA are fabricated in a manner to make corporations and the wealthy more powerful. The decline in unionization is one reason. The share of americans in the union has sharply fallen since mid 1950. This decline resulted because the employers became aggressive about keeping out unions. This decline in unionization is the main reason that the share of the total national income flowing to the corporate profits has risen.

(2) Low minimum wage rate in USA

The minimum wage rate is quite higher in other countries as compared to the USA. Its the duty of the goverment to intervene into the market when there is need to conserve the income rights of the workers. But US goverment dont take this problem seriously. In some parts they have set some sort of minimum wage but in most parts of the country where the black population lives they have'nt set any kind of minimum wage. In order to fill the gap between the income inequality the goverment must take care of the poors and mainly the weaker sections of the society.

(3) Prices of even basic health facilities such as Doctor, medical stuffs and medicine are much high in USA.

If in a country even the prices of health care facilities are high, this simp[ly means that the poor section of the society is getting hit and the condition for them is getting worst. Rich people don't get effected by the high prices but the poors are badly hit by this. Hence this aspact also indirectly makes poor more poorer. Hence leading to the gap of income inequalty.

(4) EDucation

Education also plays a vital role when it comes to jobs and income. In US Americans with a college degree earn 80% more than those with high school degrees. Hence does'nt persuing high education is also a reason for the income gap

Suggestion

According to me the US goverment must alter their policies in such a manner that they consider the poor and weaker section of the society. For this they should keep in check the minimum wage in every state of the country. It can prove to be a great filler in the wide gap between the income equality

Question - 2

US must accept that the global wealth bredistribution is occuring. Those in the top fifth of the US income bracket must realize that those in the bottom fifth cannot bear the brunt forever.

Hence the goverment should provide the bottom two fifth access to education and employment training. Investment made in the human wealth is the best way to increase the individual wealth. THis may also help in improving the labopur force.

Equity in education is another way to fill the gap. If everyone holds education then this will everyone to the minimum standard. Also the goverment can look into to provide a universal basic income.

Other way to fill the wide gap of income in USA is to raise taxes on the richer and powerfull section of the society. This will also help in keeping check that large proportions of income does'nt get concentrated in fewhands rather it must be in a proper distribution among all.

US must start discussing and implementing these measures as soon as possible because already the country has passed the point where it will take years and decades to fill the income gap.