Deck 7: Work and Unemployment

Question 1

The U.S. economic system is ___________ in which private individuals and groups invest and attempt to make a profit in a competitive market.​

A)​capitalism
B)​socialism
C)​fascism
D)​communism

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Free trade agreements have as one of their goals

A)protection of intellectual property rights.
B)higher prices for consumers.
C)increased tax revenue.
D)the elimination of U.S. jobs.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Socialism is more likely than capitalism to emphasize

A)social equality.
B)private ownership.
C)capital investment.
D)individual freedom.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Structural-functionalists would call the economic institution __________ when it fails to provide members with the goods and services they need.​

A)​dysfunctional
B)​functional
C)​latently functional
D)​exploited

Question 5

Transnational corporations

A)help the U.S. to compete in the global economy.
B)help reduce the U.S. trade deficit.
C)decrease U.S. unemployment.
D)decrease the U.S. budget deficit.

Question 6

Free trade agreements

A)increase foreign restrictions on exports.
B)make it easier to trade goods across national boundaries.
C)increase tariffs on imported goods.
D)allow competitors to copy or use U.S. technology.

Question 7

Capitalism focuses on

A)the collective good.
B)individual ownership and profit.
C)equal distribution of profits.
D)government ownership of the means of production.

Question 8

The _______ perspective analyzes the relationship between economic development and life expectancy.

A)symbolic interactionist
B)conflict
C)structural-functionalist
D)postmodern

Question 9

The organization currently overseeing the multilateral trading system throughout the world is the

A)World Trade Organization (WTO).
B)General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
C)North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
D)European Union (EU).

Question 10

An interconnected network of economic activity extending around the world and transcending national borders is a

A)global economy.
B)transnational economic structure.
C)post-industrial economy.
D)transnational corporation.

Question 11

Free trade agreements include the goal of

A)increasing foreign restrictions on exports.
B)preventing technology from being copied.
C)collecting taxes on imported goods.
D)forcing the U.S. to abide by more strict environmental regulations than other countries.

Question 12

Which is characteristic of capitalism?

A)Social welfare assistance programs
B)Economic motivation through concern for others
C)Determination of prices and wages through supply and demand
D)Government intervention in the economy

Question 13

The structural-functionalist perspective argues the economic institution

A)creates inequality between groups which contributes to hostility and social instability.
B)contributes to social stability by providing basic survival needs.
C)plays a central role in individuals' identities.
D)has little impact on individuals' daily lives.

Question 14

Transnational corporations contribute to

A)the trade deficit.
B)balancing the national budget.
C)lower consumer prices.
D)decreased military spending.

Question 15

Critics of capitalism argue that it creates

A)too much government control.
B)inequality and depletion of resources.
C)reduced work incentives and technological development.
D)competition, which keeps prices low.

Question 16

_____________ is an economic system in which the means of production are collectively owned.

A)Capitalism
B)Oligarchy
C)Socialism
D)Totalitarianism

Question 17

The ________ refers to the structure and means by which a society produces, distributes and consumes goods and services.

A)ergonomics
B)transnational corporation
C)economic institution
D)corporatocracy

Question 18

Elements of socialism in the United States include

A)police and fire protection for all.
B)a competitive market.
C)determination of prices by supply and demand.
D)state ownership of the factories.

Question 19

NAFTA contributed to

A)greater equality in incomes within the U.S. and within Mexico.
B)putting Mexican corn farmers out of business.
C)a decrease in imports to the U.S. from Mexico and Canada.
D)more jobs for both American and Mexican workers.

Question 20

____________ are corporations that have their home based in one country and affiliates in other countries.

A)Transnational corporations
B)Global superpowers
C)Free trade agreements
D)GATTs

Question 21

McDonaldization in the workplace is most likely to produce

A)close friends.
B)job satisfaction.
C)feelings of alienation.
D)creativity.

Question 22

According to measures of employment in the U.S., which of the following would be considered unemployed?

A)A mother who chooses to stay home with children
B)A person laid off from a job due to corporate downsizing
C)A prisoner
D)A real estate agent who hasn't sold a house in six months

Question 23

Measures of unemployment in the United States consider an individual to be unemployed if he or she meets certain criteria. Which of the following is a characteristic of those considered unemployed?

A)Wanting to work more hours per week
B)Actively seeking employment.
C)Discouraged and no longer looking for work
D)Employed but wanting a better job

Question 24

The symbolic interactionist perspective of work and unemployment is most likely to be concerned with explaining

A)inequalities in income among workers.
B)how work gives meaning and self-worth to the individual.
C)the importance of a person's occupation to family well-being.
D)the power of large corporations in modern society.

Question 25

Which theoretical perspective is most concerned with the imbalance in economic power?

A)Symbolic interactionism
B)Structural-functionalism
C)Conflict theory
D)Postmodernism

Question 26

For many, occupation represents a(n)_______, the most significant status in a person's social identity.

A)ego status
B)master status
C)work status
D)power status

Question 27

According to the "economic hit man" cited in your text, huge loans to poor countries benefit _______ the least.

A)the poor masses of the indebted country
B)the wealthy of the poor country
C)the large U.S. corporations
D)the United States government

Question 28

Jerry was laid off from his job when he was replaced, in part, by a 3-D printer. Jerry is a victim of

A)offshoring.
B)automation.
C)worker transition.
D)recessing.

Question 29

"Corporatocracy" refers to the

A)power of mass media corporations to influence the opinions of people.
B)large amounts of wealth controlled by economic corporations.
C)dominance of an economy by transnational corporations.
D)government that serves big business.

Question 30

Which of the following was cited in the text as a possible effect of unemployment?

A)Decreased rates of substance abuse
B)Decreased ​risk of child abuse
C)Increased property values
D)Increased rates of heart disease

Question 31

_____________ is a practice in which a business subcontracts with a third party to provide business services.

A)Automation
B)Recession
C)Job priming
D)Outsourcing

Question 32

Imelda lost her job and has given up looking for a new one. She is considered

A)unemployed.
B)underemployed.
C)marginally attached to the work force.
D)a seasonal worker.

Question 33

Automation

A)relocates jobs to other countries where products can be made more cheaply.
B)replaces human labor with animal labor.
C)occurs when machinery and equipment take the place of humans.
D)contributes to underemployment but not unemployment.

Question 34

Offshoring refers to

A)the merging of 2 or more corporations.
B)the exportation of jobs.
C)decreased profit margins of corporations.
D)cuts in employees' salaries and/or benefits.

Question 35

Which theoretical perspective sees the ruling class as controlling the economic system and oppressing the working masses?​

A)Structural-functional
B)Conflict
C)Social exchange
D)​Symbolic interaction

Question 36

Which of the following was cited in your textbook as a major cause of unemployment?

A)Laziness
B)Welfare dependency
C)Large numbers of immigrants
D)Corporate downsizing

Question 37

A significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy and lasting for at least six months is a​

A)​catastrophe.
B)​recession.
C)​boom.
D)​latent function.

Question 38

On a global scale, the policies of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank

A)increase local consumption in a country, instead of exportation of their products.
B)are designed to protect natural resources, such as forests and minerals.
C)reduce exploitation of labor by foreign corporations.
D)pressure the developing countries to serve foreign investors at the expense of the local economy.

Question 39

Barry lost his job over a year ago and has not been able to find another. He is categorized as part of the ​

A)​long-term unemployed.
B)​outsourced.
C)​labor movement.
D)​permanently jobless.

Question 40

According to the ___________, Americans view the term "capitalism" more negatively than the term "free enterprise."​

A)​symbolic interactionists
B)​conflict theorists
C)​feminists
D)​structural functionalists

Question 41

Sweatshops are characterized by

A)worker organizations.
B)humane working conditions.
C)better than average wage pay.
D)excessively long hours of work.

Question 42

The most dangerous form of child labor in the United States is​

A)​child care.
B)​farmwork.
C)​entertainment.
D)​food service.

Question 43

Widespread "sweatshop-like" conditions are found among

A)fast food restaurants.
B)child care workers.
C)hospital workers.
D)garment workers.

Question 44

A retail store worker reciting a script when interacting with customers is an example of which principle of McDonaldization identified by Ritzer?

A)Priority on quality
B)Efficiency
C)Calculability
D)Predictability

Question 45

Another term for slavery is

A)forced labor.
B)domestic labor.
C)sweatshop labor.
D)unpaid labor.

Question 46

The most common job related fatality involves

A)animal processing.
B)chemical burns.
C)transportation accidents.
D)cuts, lacerations.

Question 47

The most common form of forced labor today is

A)legal ownership.
B)bonded slavery
C)kidnapping.
D)exchange of work for food and shelter.

Question 48

Most forced workers work in agriculture, mining, and

A)high tech industries.
B)prostitution.
C)elder care.
D)child care.

Question 49

The unemployment rate for young college graduates is

A)lower than the national average.
B)higher than the national average.
C)no different from the national average.
D)virtually nonexistent because college graduates easily find employment.

Question 50

The highest number of victims of forced sex labor are found in

A)South Asia.
B)Africa.
C)North America.
D)South America.

Question 51

In general, the job prospects for recent college grads are

A)not as good as they have been in the past.
B)better than ever.
C)good for women, but not for men.
D)not going to improve.

Question 52

Kendra worked in a library in Missouri processing books and getting them ready for the shelves. Her work was recently taken over by a firm in India. Kendra is a victim of

A)offshoring.
B)recessing.
C)automation.
D)worker transition

Question 53

What is the most common type of nonfatal workplace injury?

A)Respiratory illness
B)Repetitive motion injuries.
C)Skin disorders
D)Poisoning

Question 54

________________ was created in 1970 to develop, monitor, and enforce health and safety regulations in the workplace.

A)OECD
B)GATT
C)NAFTA
D)OSHA

Question 55

Job burnout refers to which of the following?

A)Long lasting strains that result in health problems
B)The movement of jobs from the U.S. to other countries
C)The replacement of human labor with technology
D)The lack of highly skilled labor in developing countries

Question 56

Compared to slaves in the past, modern slaves today are

A)more likely to be treated well because the world has become more humane.
B)more likely to be controlled by violence, the threat of violence, and/or debt.
C)more valuable, which gives the slave-holder incentive to provide a reasonable standard of care.
D)more educated and better able to defend themselves against unscrupulous slave holders.

Question 57

In __________ slaves are considered property and can be bought and sold.

A)bonded labor
B)migrant working
C)chattel slavery
D)insourcing

Question 58

Children working in agriculture in the U.S. are most at risk of

A)​exposure to chemicals.
B)working illegally if they are under the age of 16.
C)sexually transmitted diseases.
D)eye strain.

Question 59

Slaves in the United States are most likely to be used in

A)transportation.
B)domestic work.
C)food service jobs.
D)automobile assembly.

Question 60

McDonaldization refers to the process by which

A)the McDonald restaurant chain has spread to countries outside the U.S.
B)the principles of McDonalds are being applied to more and more of society.
C)chain restaurants and stores, such as McDonalds and Wal-Mart, are displacing smaller, independently owned enterprises in U.S. cities.
D)more and more consumers eat at fast food restaurants.

Question 61

In a national poll, one in four Americans said the best way to create more U.S. jobs is to​

A)​keep manufacturing jobs in the United States.
B)​educate young people for future careers.
C)​provide retraining for displaced workers.
D)​expand government services.

Question 62

Your text suggests the most effective strategy against sweatshop working conditions is

A)activism.
B)legislation.
C)student petitions.
D)religious leaders speaking out.

Question 63

The Fair Labor Association (FLA)is

A)a college student organization devoted to ending child labor.
B)a national coalition of labor unions representing jobs that have high concentrations of women and racial and ethnic minorities.
C)an international coalition of labor unions around the world that pool their resources to collectively bargain with employers.
D)a coalition of companies, universities, and nongovernmental organizations that promotes international labor standards and the improvement of working conditions.

Question 64

Union density in the United States has

A)increased in recent years.
B)declined in recent decades.
C)remained unchanged since the 1930s.
D)evaporated since unions are no longer legal.

Question 65

Sarai works with other women from her village making jewelry that is sold on the Internet. She and her follow workers make all of their own decisions and control the process. Sarai works in ​

A)​a multinational corporation.
B)a ​flextime counsel.
C)a ​worker cooperative.
D)​an employee enterprise.

Question 66

Which of the following generally describes the trends with regards to trade unions around the world?

A)Unions are generally outlawed throughout the world.
B)Union intimidation is largely a thing of the past.
C)About half of the world's workforce lives in countries that have not ratified the Convention on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.
D)Things have gotten better since all countries ratified the Convention on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.

Question 67

"Alienation" in industrialized societies is often caused by

A)a high degree of division of labor.
B)lack of sufficient knowledge or training for one's job.
C)dislike of fellow employees.
D)unreasonable expectations of employers.

Question 68

In 2009, United Students Against Sweatshops launched Kick out Sodexho because

A)they do not like Sodexho's food.
B)Sodexho violated international environmental law.
C)Sodexho pays poverty level wages and fights efforts to unionize.
D)Sodexho was not hiring enough students.

Question 69

In 2011, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin gained national attention when he signed legislation​

A)​prohibiting collective bargaining by most public workers.
B)​giving women paid maternity leave.
C)​extending the Family and Medical Leave Act leave period by two months.
D)​prohibiting child labor in agriculture.

Question 70

Which industry can legally employ children as young as 12 in the U.S.?

A)Food service
B)Agriculture
C)Manufacturing
D)The garment industry

Question 71

​The 1998 Workforce Investment Act provides for

A)deporting foreign workers.
B)​training and hiring children.
C)​career counseling.
D)​temporary employment.

Question 72

The percentage of workers who belong to a union is measured as ​

A)​union density.
B)​labor force participation.
C)​labor enrollment.
D)​union control rates.

Question 73

______ jobs in the U.S. require only a high school diploma or less.

A)Less than ten percent
B)About one quarter
C)A little more than half
D)More than two-thirds

Question 74

The components of alienation include

A)slavery.
B)lack of education.
C)health concerns.
D)unclear or conflicting workplace norms.

Question 75

Aaron feels powerless and estranged from his work in a meat packing plant. Marx would call this​

A)​alienation.
B)​a toxic workplace.
C)​anomie.
D)​labor induced trauma.

Question 76

Which of the following have changed union density in recent decades?

A)Growth of manufacturing jobs
B)Globalization
C)Corporate increases of wages and benefits for nonunion employees
D)Growth of benefits packages due to industry competition

Question 77

The 1935 National Labor Relations Act, that guarantees the right to unionize, bargain collectively, and to strike, excludes

A)truck drivers.
B)hotel workers.
C)independent contractors.
D)manufacturing jobs.

Question 78

In __________ members participate in making workplace policies and decisions.

A)​worker cooperatives
B)​proletariat enterprises
C)​chattel organizations
D)​CORP collectives

Question 79

The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, passed by Congress in 2000,

A)allows slave holders to be fined, but not imprisoned, for forcing someone to work.
B)protects slaves against deportation if they testify against their former owners.
C)protects women victims in the sex industry but does not help male victims of slavery.
D)requires immigrant slaves be returned to their homelands, if they are caught in the U.S.

Question 80

Behavior-based safety programs

A)are government sponsored programs to determine how businesses can better design their workplaces to eliminate occupational injuries.
B)focus on changing the behavior of employees and managers.
C)have determined that it is primarily workplace conditions, not workers' behaviors, that cause accidents.
D)have determined that chronic work-related disorders or illnesses are best treated by putting the worker in a less physically demanding job.