Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

• Conflict Perspective: According to conflict theorists, good health is a highly valued resource, and like all resources, it is unequally distributed in a society. Differences in quality of health and access to health care tend to fall along socioeconomic lines. Those who are wealthier and can afford better health care and are generally better educated and able to discern health problems at earlier stages. 5.6 Economic Society needs food and shelter for survival. Economic institutions have emerged from those needs. The economy is a reference to the system for producing, distributing, and consuming goods and services in a society. Many sociologists feel that this is the most important of the five social institutions (religion, government, education, family, and economy). Economic systems sometimes define government and religious systems. Changes in the economic system affect other systems. Every economy consists of three sectors: • Primary sector: This sector is largely agricultural and involves extracting resources from the environment. This includes hunting, gathering, farming and mining – all activities where individuals are directly involved in the process. Preindustrial societies are usually engaged in the primary sector. • Secondary sector: This sector concentrates on converting raw materials into manufactured goods. These jobs are primarily blue collar jobs. Industrial societies are engaged in this secondary sector. • Tertiary sector: This sector produces services like teaching, medicine, and counseling. Postindustrial societies are engaged in these service jobs. As an economy evolves, its focus progresses from primary to secondary to tertiary, causing shifts in the dynamics of the society as a whole. Systems There are three basic economic systems in the world: capitalism, socialism, and mixed economies. Capitalism and socialism represent ideals that are not really met in the real world. In actuality there are societies that are mostly capitalist, those that are in the middle, and those that are mostly socialist. The types of governments found in countries with each type of economic system varywidely. The primary concept under dispute between capitalism and socialism is property. Property relates to the set of rights an owner has verses those of others who do not own it. Community ownership means that the entire community owns the property and any member can use it. Private ownership means that a specific person(s) own the property. Public ownership means that the state or political authority owns the property on behalf of the population. Property rights are so important because those who own the means of producing goods have power over those who do not. This is the primary argument between capitalists and socialists. Capitalists argue that the best interests of all are served

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