Solutions to Socioeconomic Inequality in Democracies

Running head: SOLUTIONS OF SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN DEMOCRACIES
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Solutions to socioeconomic inequality in democracies
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SOLUTIONS TO SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN DEMOCRACIES
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Solutions to socioeconomic inequality in democracies
Introduction
A democracy is a state ruled by a government system where the elected individuals
represent the citizens. However, since it is impossible for all the people to be active in the
governance practices, the democracy is purported to be a measure that is meant to fairness and
equality of individuals in the society. Contrary to the anticipated notions, (Schwartzberg, 2018,
pp.1-13) acknowledges that most democratic governances have not achieved the equality and
fairness among the relevant citizens to these democracies. He further explains that fairness and
equality are centred on the economic and financial status of individuals and their social
subgroupings. As a result, this essay seeks to address the factors that have led to the
socioeconomic inequality and how they can be addressed in democratic governances to achieve a
desirable equilibrium (Bonica et al., 2013, pp.103-104).
The critical review of factors leading to socioeconomic inequality in democracies
Many studies have been conducted over the subject to outline the factors that have led to
the social and economic inequalities despite the democracies being in place. Some studies
ascertain that social and economic groupings are defined by the wide range of human needs
(Jerome, 2013, pp.39-45). The author further elaborates that the majority of human needs cutting
across the spiritual needs to the economic needs have placed the labourers in different positions
of social groupings, which are defined by their political and financial status thus creating an
equality gap among the people. In the past, Maslow defined the necessity of meeting basic
human needs back in 1943. He stated that unless the physical and psychological needs of human
beings are met, they could not demand their next need. Moreover, he claimed that if a person

SOLUTIONS TO SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN DEMOCRACIES
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cannot provide for himself/herself, they tend to change their environment or their current need.
(Siqueira et al., 2014, pp.557-572) further, build on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs by claiming
that the most suitable solution through addressing the socioeconomic inequality through the trade
unions to defend the worker and the labourers
Additionally, (Goos, Maarten, and Alan, 2009, pp.58-63) in their findings, points out that
at least 18 out of 24 developed countries have a significant decrease in the number of trade
unions between 1970 and 2003. The authors claim that the decrease in the trade unions led to the
weakening of the union that levied minimal pressure to the politicians across the democracies to
distribute resources equally for social expenditures. This gradually accrued to the different
classes and status of social and economic inequality in the democracies. Furthermore, (Offe,
2018, pp.74-83) emphasizes the importance of being aware of the existing social inequalities
among the labourers. He narrates that thinking aloud of the inequalities and taking actions via
calling the trade unions to attention would aid to increase the number of union members who will
take charge of defending the rights of the workers. However, the increase in the number of the
trade unions whose rights and freedom are defended will increase the number of the individuals
or activists who think aloud and are ready to point the inequality practices in the democracies.
The increase in the awareness of social and economic inequality through organized movements
is a potential milestone to reduce inequality.
Concisely, (Kern and Anna, 2018, pp.724-744) in there findings highlight that another
major contributor to inequality is the ideological and political polarization that determines the
individuals’ participation in elections, income distribution in different regions and groups,
support for the marginal candidates during campaigns, and the attention to the politically based