Question 1

What is the impact of technology on labor?

Accepted Answer

The impact of technology on labor is not entirely negative or positive, as it depends on how it is implemented. While some jobs may be displaced, technology can also create new job opportunities in industries related to tech. Additionally, technology can improve working conditions and productivity for employees. It is important for employers and policy-makers to consider the potential impacts of new technology on the workforce and to ensure that workers are adequately trained and supported during any transitions.

Question 2

Which two sectors of the economy were the primary cause of the recent economic crisis?

Accepted Answer

The housing sector was a primary cause of the economic crisis because of the housing bubble that occurred, where home prices were inflated and many people obtained mortgages they could not afford. Banks played a role in this by offering subprime mortgages to high-risk borrowers and then bundling these loans into securities that were sold to investors. When the housing market crashed and many homeowners defaulted on their mortgages, many of these securities became worthless and triggered a financial crisis in the banking sector.

Question 3

Which of the following would likely be considered part of the underground economy?

Accepted Answer

A garage sale is often considered part of the underground economy because transactions are usually in cash and not reported for tax purposes, unlike the other options which are more likely to be formal businesses.

Question 4

U.S.surveys consistently find that an overwhelming majority of workers:

Accepted Answer

U.S. surveys consistently find that an overwhelming majority of workers are satisfied with their job. While there may be some dissatisfaction or desire for job changes, it is not the majority opinion.

Question 5

Which is an example of precarious work?

Accepted Answer

Precarious work refers to jobs that are insecure and offer little protection to the worker. An adjunct college instructor is a prime example of this because they are hired on a semester-to-semester basis and can lose classes at any time due to low enrollment. They have no job security or benefits and often struggle to make ends meet.

Question 6

Alienation refers to a situation where an individual:

Accepted Answer

Alienation refers to a feeling of disconnection, estrangement, or detachment from one's work. This can happen when someone feels like their job is meaningless, does not align with their values, or does not allow them to use their skills and abilities. It is not necessarily tied to working hard, disliking a boss, or lacking competency.

Question 7

The fastest growing occupations today are:

Accepted Answer

The fastest growing occupations today span across all these categories, reflecting a diverse job market that includes a demand for service jobs, positions requiring higher education or technical skills, and low-wage, low-skill jobs. This diversity is due to various factors such as technological advancements, demographic changes, and economic shifts.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of a profession?

Accepted Answer

A profession typically requires specialized education, training, and a specific set of skills or knowledge. Physicians undergo extensive training and education to become licensed medical professionals, making it an example of a profession. The other choices may be skilled occupations, but they do not necessarily require the same level of specialized education and training as a profession.

Question 9

The _________ is the part of the economy that escapes the record keeping and regulation of the state.

Accepted Answer

The underground economy, also known as the black market or shadow economy, refers to economic transactions and activities that are not measured, recorded, or taxed by the government. This includes unreported income, illegal activities, and informal transactions that take place outside the formal economy. The segmented labor market refers to the division of the labor market into different segments or tiers, with varying levels of job security, wages, and working conditions. The industrial core refers to the developed regions of a country with high levels of industrialization and economic growth. The dual economy refers to the coexistence of a modern industrial sector and a traditional agricultural sector in developing countries.

Question 10

The reward of professional work that differentiates it from other occupations is:

Accepted Answer

The reward of professional work that differentiates it from other occupations is the freedom from supervision. Professionals are trusted to do their work without constant oversight, which allows for greater autonomy and creativity. High salaries may accompany some professional work, but it is not the defining characteristic. Bureaucratic structure contradicts the idea of freedom from supervision, and vacation time is not unique to professional work.

Question 11

A __________ is an occupation that demands specialized skills and creative freedom.

Accepted Answer

A profession is a type of occupation that requires specialized skills, advanced knowledge, and often involves creative freedom. Examples include doctors, lawyers, architects, and artists. While blue-collar and white-collar jobs also require specialized skills, they may not necessarily involve the same level of creativity or artistic expression as a profession. Skilled labor jobs may also require specialized training, but may not necessarily require the same level of advanced knowledge or creative freedom.

Question 12

The work of smiling,appearing happy,or in other ways suggesting that one enjoys providing a service is called:

Accepted Answer

The work of smiling, appearing happy, or in other ways suggesting that one enjoys providing a service is called emotional labor. This involves managing one's emotions and expressions in order to create a certain atmosphere or experience for customers or clients.

Question 13

When a job becomes mechanized or the means of accomplishing the job is pre-determined for the worker,sociologists refer to this as:

Accepted Answer

Deskilling refers to the process in which certain skills needed for a particular job are removed or simplified due to mechanization or pre-determined means of accomplishing the job. Therefore, C is the correct choice. Alienation refers to the feeling of disconnection or detachment from one's work or society; blue-collar work refers to manual labor jobs; and underemployment refers to the condition in which a worker is employed, but not in their desired position or at full capacity.

Question 14

The definition of unemployment used by the federal government to generate statistics:

Accepted Answer

The federal government's definition of unemployment does not count individuals who are part-time or underemployed as unemployed, focusing instead on those actively seeking full-time employment.

Question 15

The biggest losers in the transformation of the labor market are likely to be:

Accepted Answer

The traditional working class is likely to be the biggest loser in the labor market transformation due to automation and globalization, which often replace or devalue manual and routine jobs.

Question 16

Margie works for a company that builds parts for cars.She is increasingly dissatisfied with her job,feeling that her supervisor offers her no opportunity to provide input about how to better perform her job.She believes that the company doesn't care about her and is just using her.Margie is experiencing:

Accepted Answer

Margie's feelings of being used and not being able to provide input suggest that she is experiencing alienation from her job. Autonomy would refer to having more control or independence in her work, which is not the case here. Deskilling refers to a reduction in skills required for a job, which is not mentioned in the scenario. Displacement refers to being replaced by another worker, which also does not apply to this situation.

Question 17

Tom argues that the way to keep jobs in the U.S.is to reduce government oversight and leave wages and benefits up to market forces even if this means reductions.His views are consistent with the ___ approach to globalization.

Accepted Answer

Tom's argument aligns with the conservative approach to globalization, which emphasizes free markets, deregulation, and privatization. Conservatives believe that reducing government oversight will incentivize businesses to stay in the U.S. and create more jobs, whereas liberals tend to support government intervention to protect workers' rights and ensure fair wages and benefits. The social investment approach focuses on using government resources to promote sustainable development and address social inequality, while the conflict approach views globalization as a source of exploitation and inequality that requires fundamental economic and political restructuring.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT one of the three ill effects of technology on labor?

Accepted Answer

The three ill effects of technology on labor are deskilling, displacing workers, and greater supervision. Low productivity is not one of the ill effects; in fact, technology can often improve productivity.

Question 19

The _________ approach to protecting U.S.jobs is to ensure that American children receive quality education in all areas to enable them for high-wage jobs in technology and science fields

Accepted Answer

The social investment approach focuses on investing in education and other social programs to enhance the skills and capabilities of the workforce. By providing quality education, American children would be equipped with the skills necessary to compete for high-wage jobs in technology and science fields. This approach is different from the conservative approach that advocates for protectionist policies, such as tariffs and trade restrictions, to shield American jobs from foreign competition, or the conflict approach that relies on labor unions and collective bargaining to protect American workers. The liberal approach may also support social investment policies but may also include more government intervention in the labor market to protect workers' rights and provide social safety nets.

Question 20

The liberal approach to protecting U.S.jobs includes:

Accepted Answer

The liberal approach to protecting U.S. jobs is to use subsidies and surcharges to reduce the market advantages of foreign-made products. This is done to promote the purchase of locally made goods and create more jobs in the US. Reducing government oversight and letting the market determine prices and wages are more aligned with conservative economic policies and would not necessarily be considered part of the liberal approach to protecting U.S. jobs.

Quiz 13: Politics and the Economy