poverty in the United States and use and...
Poverty in the United States
poverty in the United States and use and choose a theory to explain (Karl Marx)
or (Max Webber)
Poverty in the United
C
poverty in the United States and use and...
Poverty in the United States
poverty in the United States and use and choose a theory to explain (Karl Marx)
or (Max Webber)
Poverty in the United
Census Bureau in 2016 estimated the poverty levels in the U.S to be 12.7
percent which means 43.1 million Americans live in poverty. Historically, the
poverty rate in the country has fluctuated yearly with the highest percentage
going up to 22.4 percent which happened in 1959 and with the lowest going to
11.1 percent in 1973. While eliminating the extremes, the poverty levels have
ranged between 15 and 11 percent (Semega et al.).
Marx’s approach to any problem is uniquely characterized by examining an issue
and its dynamic relation to others and relating it to historical, political,
social and economic realities. It is an approach that does not make abstract
assumptions about any problem. In other words, it is the use of sociological
thinking to understand anything including poverty. Through a series of critical
analysis, Marx’s argument assumes that poverty is as a result of uneven
distribution of income and wealth which is a result of capitalism (Mondal).
to this theory, the existence of inequality comes with poverty in any society.
For the sociologist who adapts Karl Marx’s perspective, they believe that it is
only through the abolishment of disparity in income that a community can get
rid of poverty. Poverty does count not only income inequities but also social
imbalance. Social inequity is about groups or individual people having more
material resources that are in abundance as compared to others with little in the
same society (Smith et al). Poverty is, therefore, insufficient supply of
materials for some people. Karl Marx’s theory can, therefore, be a good
starting point to understand poverty and finding ways to eradicate it.