The Social Stratification: Global Rankings, Poverty Reduction, Elite Stratification, and US Social Class Ladder

This report summarizes the global stratification of world nations and an overview has been provided on the world rankings of African countries. An overview has been provided to find about the major causes behind poverty and how to reduce it? The report also discusses stratification of elite classes and their different methods. A brief overview has been provided on the social class ranking, followed by a conclusion.

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Title: The Social Stratification
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Executive Summary
This report summarizes the global stratification of world nations and an overview has
been provided on the world rankings of African countries. An overview has been provided to
find about the major causes behind poverty and how to reduce it? The report also discusses
stratification of elite classes and their different methods. A brief overview has been provided on
the social class ranking, followed by a conclusion.

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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
1. The Global Stratification of the World's Nations.....................................................................3
2. Children in Poverty..................................................................................................................4
3. How Elites Maintain Stratification...........................................................................................4
4. U.S. Social Class Ladder..........................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
The purchasing power of the USA can be expressed in the currency value which is expressed
in terms of goods and services that can be purchased with one unit of currency. Purchasing
power plays an important role as it affects different economies from customers who buys goods
and invest in stocks and contribute to economic prosperity.
1. The Global Stratification of the World's Nations
Global stratification refers to the structural arrangement of individuals, societies and groups
around the globe. Global Stratification makes comparison with economic stability, wealth and
status of different countries across the globe. This global stratification highlights the patterns of
inequality. During the early period of civilization, agrarian societies interacted with different
groups and when explorers started traveling, groups started trading for goods and customs and
ideas. The industrial technology has increased the goods and wealth. The industrial revolution is
responsible for the rise of North American countries as they have oil and fuel propelling in
economies. The robust banking and investment systems have helped boost economic growth in
various countries. Africa is a continent that has mammoth human and natural resources and
diverse cultural, economic and ecological diversity, but remains underdeveloped (Berger 5-25).
Most of the African countries suffer through the deep poverty and they are underdeveloped.
The majority of the nations as categorized through the United Nations are least developed in
Africa. Numerous strategies have been deployed and have failed to yield the positive results. It is
a belief system that the continent is destined to have poverty and monetary slavery. The Africa
has enormous possibilities and talent. There have been reports on how the economic growth and

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developments can cover up for the illegitimate financial investments, illegal trade policies and
price of adapting to the climatic changes that can channelize the resources of the country (Kaftan
194-213).
2. Children in Poverty
The impoverished children begin their education well behind when compared with
affluent peers. This gap is prevalent in school years. There are low income groups that undergo
high levels of stress and disparities have an effect on the overall development of children. On the
basis of Economic Theory, children in poor families lag behind their peers as parents have less
time and energy to support them. A lot of support is required by the parents to estimate the
effects of low income family and analyze the home conditions. This is the time when children
are growing rapidly and they are sensitive to the family conditions. Few things that could be
undertaken to reduce child poverty are enumerated below (Chesters 246-265).
Increase the household income-There are evidences that increasing the income enhances the
educational attainment. There must be a legal action by improvising the work quality and
maximizing the benefits taken in and out of work. This includes school meals, free uniforms and
grants and education benefits. Another way in which poverty can be reduced to a significant
level is by supporting parental relationships. There are visible links that exist between the
poverty and household type. Different types of actions are undertaken for supporting the family
relationships and this can help in reducing the poverty (Grell-Brisk 17087).

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3. How Elites Maintain Stratification
Social stratification is dividing the groups of people into different layers and this
categorization is based on the prestige, relative power and property. This is applicable to nations
and people within nation, groups and society. There may be differences as which social
stratification is employed and gender is one of the basis for stratification of people. There are
four social stratification systems-Slavery, estate, caste and class. Slavery can be defined as a
social stratification method in which people own different groups of people. Slavery is usually
undertaken as debt and the punishment for any committed crime. Racism has less association
with slavery. Slavery is being practiced in Niger and Sudan (Millei 3-6).
The caste system is a social stratification method and that is based on recognized status and
followed by an individual throughout the life. India is known to give the best example of caste
system. Based on the different aspects of religion, the case system in India has been existing for
almost four thousand years. The Indian government has abolished the caste system in the year
1949, however, this remains an important aspect of Indian culture and tradition. This is followed
by different groups of people (Gnecchi and Bisio).
The class system is a social stratification method that is based on the materialistic or money
possessions. The initial position is based on parent defined status. With relative fluid moments,
social classes experience social mobility and there can be a movement up and down in a social
class ladder. Irrespective of the premise, a society can divide people into many groups, gender
plays an important role in making distinctions. On a gender basis, people are divided into
different categories and get access to reward. The male population has always been favored
through the social distinction. It has been commonly observed that men’s earnings are more than
a women and maximum number of women are illiterate. There is an increasing connectedness

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between the wealthiest people that has been producing the superclass and power and wealth is
concentrated more (Mawyer 495-498).
The estate comprises the outbuildings, farmland and houses and forms the basis for large
properties. This can be a mansion or country house. This is a modern term used for manor. Estate
planning is an overall process for anticipating the person’s estate and management of the same
during the entire course of life. The disposal and management of an estate should be done before
the death of a person and this includes minimizing estate, income tax and gifts.
4. U.S. Social Class Ladder
According to Joseph Karl, the rank consciousness is a complex phenomenon. Social class
can be defined large group of people who have similar education and income. These people are
employed at jobs and share compatibility with each other. Social status refers to the position that
has been occupied by a social group. The U.S social class ladder can be defined as follows-
1. Capitalist-This includes few top most executives.
2. Upper Middle Class-These are upper class managers and professionals.
3. Lower Middle Class-These are foremen, craftspeople and semi-professionals and
lower managers.
4. Working class-These are clerical grade staff people, low paid factory people.
5. Working Poor-These are low paid workers, laborers and service people.
6. Underclass- These are part time and unemployed people.
The determination of social class is done with an individual’s association with different
people. Class awareness is regarded as a common identity which is based on means of
production position (Singh 235-251). The researchers do not believe that property can be

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regarded as the sole basis in determination of an individual position in a stratification system.
This is dependent on the prestige, social class and property (El Menyawi 83-133).
Rewards are not used for measuring the job importance. Society can be described as the
meritocracy. However, this is not always possible as college entrance is largely dependent on the
family income. However, it has been observed that stratification is regarded as dysfunctional for
many people and less functional. According to the conflict stories, conflict and function cannot
be streamlined (Henslin). Every society has limited number of resources and every society
struggles with other groups for resource. This is a social stratification form wherein all the
positions will be awarded based on the merit. Therefore, it can be said that an “individual” will
be in upper class executive, ten years from now. Prestige can be inhibited through property
ownership and this is based on the different factors like athletic skills. Society takes into
consideration to fill some of the important positions. Undoubtedly, few positions have more
importance than others. The important position can be filled by more qualified persons and these
people can get more rewards. The upper middle class is shaped through education. Almost all the
members of this class have graduate or post graduate degrees. More than 20 percent of the
population lies in this category. The motivations can vary in every group and the foundations are
established in upper class only.
Conclusion
In investment terminology, purchasing power is the credit amount available to any
customer for buying the additional securities when compared with marginable securities. When
there is a decrease in the purchasing power of a country and this is mainly due to excessive
inflation, the country will report negative economic consequences.

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References
Berger, Mark T. "From Nation-Building To State-Building: The Geopolitics Of Development,
The Nation-State System And The Changing Global Order." Third World Quarterly 27.1
(2006): 5-25. Web.
Chesters, Jenny. "Wealth Inequality And Stratification In The World Capitalist
Economy." Perspectives on Global Development and Technology 12.1-2 (2013): 246-
265. Web.
El Menyawi, Hassan. "Toward Global Democracy: Thoughts In Response To The Rising Tide
Of Nation-To-Nation Interdependencies." Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies 11.2
(2004): 83-133. Web.
Gnecchi, Flavio, and Luca Bisio. "World Cities, Nation-States And Global Competition." Public
Policy and Administration Review 2.4 (2014): n. pag. Web.
Grell-Brisk, Marilyn. "China And Global Economic Stratification In An Interdependent
World." Palgrave Communications 3 (2017): 17087. Web.
Henslin, James. Essentials Of Sociology: A Down-To-Earth Approach. 11th ed. Boston, MA:
Allyn&Bacon.: ISBN-13: 978-0133803549 ISBN-10: 0133803546, 2014. Print.
Kaftan, Joanna. "Elite Strategies In A Global World: A Typology Of Polish Patriots." Studies in
Ethnicity and Nationalism 11.2 (2011): 194-213. Web.
Mawyer, Alexander. "On The Edge Of The Global: Modern Anxieties In A Pacific Island Nation
By Niko Besnier." Journal of World History 24.2 (2013): 495-498. Web.
Millei, Zsuzsa. "The Cultural Politics Of ‘Childhood’ And ‘Nation’: Space, Mobility And A
Global World." Global Studies of Childhood 5.1 (2015): 3-6. Web.

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Singh, Sabina S. "Beyond The Nation: Global Democratisation In Uganda And The Politics Of
Dispensation." Third World Quarterly 38.1 (2016): 235-251. Web.