Income is a key component of stratification, and income is unequally distributed in all societies. The inequalities of income will exist as long as
A) societies reward skills, talent, knowledge, hard work, innovation, initiative, and risk taking.
B) the rich keep the power to themselves.
C) the poor are denied access to resources.
D) humans are in control of rewards.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The unequal distribution of income is a natural consequence of societies rewarding individuals based on their skills, talent, knowledge, hard work, innovation, initiative, and risk-taking. Some individuals will inevitably possess more of these qualities, and will therefore enjoy higher incomes than others. This does not necessarily mean that the rich always keep the power to themselves, or that the poor are necessarily denied access to resources, although these factors can contribute to income inequality in certain contexts. Ultimately, the unequal distribution of income is a reflection of human control over rewards and the systematic differences in the abilities and efforts of individuals.

Income Is a Key Component of Stratification, and Income Is