Sociological Theories - Economics and Poverty

Sociological Theories, Economics and Poverty

The study of Sociology is very important in today's society because of all the societal

problems and issues that exist. Societal issues and problems will never be rectified if it is not

studied and revamped. There are many aspects of society studied by sociologists, including

the economic conditions prevailing in a society. With understanding, it allows individuals, the

government and other public agencies to make efforts and create social conditions that will help

reduce poverty, crime, inequality and other issues in society.

Sociology is useful because it gives us another way of understanding society and why

people behave in which they behave. If it were not for sociology, we would have only

psychology for understanding why people act the way that they do. We would not be able to

notice that impoverished and lower class people act differently from people who are not poor.

We would only be able to look at individual reasons for behavior; we would also not be able to

understand the impact that various institutions have on society because we would not think about

them. We would not be able to think about the impact of many people going to church, or of

having a high divorce rate. All of these things are things that sociology looks at more than any

other social science.

While sociology is not an exact science as is biology or chemistry, it does employ first-

hand studies that are measured as scientifically as possible. Of course, when dealing with human

behaviors and relations there are too many variables for one hundred percent accuracy.

Nevertheless, studies have proven valuable. Such studies are helpful for Sociologists to

recommend ways to improve learning. Other studies, such as those in which inner cities high-

rise apartments; produce an environment as compared to public housing in the form of one-level

homes or apartments has led to the devastating of such high-rises in an effort to improve the lives

of people on public aid. These studies and many others are useful to sociologists who strive for a

better life for the people with whom they study and work. In a study regarding education, there

has been some success in determining what time is best for beginning school for high school

aged students. By using measurements such as standardized test scores, determination of the

best learning times can be measured fairly well. Several studies have revealed that students who

come to their first class at nine a.m. succeed more often in learning well versus than those who

take the class earlier.

Many Sociologist believes that there are five types of institutions in any society, which

includes family, education, economy, government and religion. Here in the United States, our

education system clearly helps contribute to both prosperity and poverty. Mainly because schools

are funded on a local level; which basically means schools in poorer areas are poorly funded and

typically have substandard conditions, whereas richer schools tend to have a better education

system and better outcomes.

"The scenario that plays out all too often and the resulting poverty can have a devastating

effect on the children who now must make their own ways through school. Overwhelming,

education evidence suggests that growing up in poverty with a parent whose education has been

limited puts children at a disadvantage with peers whose parents present everyday examples of

the rewards of education." (Hall, 2011). According to the US Census Bureau, 1 in 6 Americans

live in poverty a number that might have increased since the recession started to take hold in

2008. However, the poverty rates in Europe and Japan are much lower (Bishaw & Macartney).

This suggest that our economic system in the U.S., one which put emphasis on low taxes and

individual freedom to succeed may have always had a rather large poor population.

Children in families living below the poverty line may not receive the benefits of quality

interaction time with supportive adults, which can impact language development, acquisition of

social skills and readiness to learn basic concepts in academic areas. Having wealth will give the

child the best education that money can buy starting at a young age. It also allows a child to

travel and extend his or her mind. Riches also allows a child to spend time with family to

develop confidence in life and children of wealthy parents often inherit wealth. Your

socioeconomic status often determines where you live and what privileges you may have.

Where you live determine where you go to school and what you observe day to

day. It may determine who you socialize with and the amount of crime in your neighborhood.

All of these things can trap a person in a cycle of poverty. First, there is the idea that the poor

lack opportunities. People who believe this idea say that the poor grow up in places where