Question 1

Compared with lower-middle-income economies,nations having upper-middle?income economies tend to have a higher standard of living and export diverse goods and services.

Accepted Answer

This statement is based on factual information and is true. Upper-middle-income economies have a higher per capita income and human development index compared to lower-middle-income economies. They also have a more diversified economy with exports spanning various sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and services.

Question 2

The United States is ranked number one (the best)on the Human Development Index.

Accepted Answer

While the United States ranks high on various development-related indices, according to the latest 2020 report by the United Nations Development Programme, the United States is ranked 17th on the Human Development Index, behind countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Ireland, and Germany.

Question 3

Unlike most Western nations,Canada's aid to low-income foreign nations increased during the 1990s.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Unlike most Western nations,Canada's aid to low-income...

Question 4

According to the World Bank,women suffer more than men from global inequality.

Accepted Answer

According to the World Bank, women face more inequality than men on a global scale. This includes disparities in access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and political representation. Women also experience higher rates of poverty and discrimination. These findings are supported by numerous studies and reports on gender inequality.

Question 5

Larissa is analyzing free trade agreements between countries.What perspective is Larissa most likely to use?
A)world systems analysis
B)dependency theory
C)modernization theory
D)new international division of labour theory

Accepted Answer

The answer of Larissa is analyzing free trade agreements between...

Question 6

In 2005,wealthy countries agreed to cancel $40 billion in debt to allow some of the poor countries to spend money on education,agriculture,health care,and infrastructure.

Accepted Answer

This is true. It was called the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative and it cancelled debts owed to international organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund by 18 of the world's poorest countries.

Question 7

According to modernization theory,traditional values are one of the largest barriers to development in low-income nations.

Accepted Answer

According to modernization theory, traditional values and practices are seen as a barrier to development in low-income nations as they are believed to hinder the adoption of new technologies and modern ideas necessary for progress. Modernization theory emphasizes the importance of breaking with tradition and embracing Western values and practices as a means of achieving economic growth and development.

Question 8

What four stages are involved in the modernization process?
A)primitive,take-off,technological maturity,high mass consumption
B)traditional,take-off,technological maturity,globalization
C)primitive,take-off,technological maturity,popular consumption
D)traditional,take-off,technological maturity,high mass consumption

Accepted Answer

The four stages involved in the modernization process are traditional stage, take-off stage, technological maturity stage, and high mass consumption stage. Option D includes these stages correctly. Option A includes a primitive stage, which is not a part of the modernization process. Option B includes globalization instead of high mass consumption, which is not a stage in the modernization process. Option C includes popular consumption instead of high mass consumption, which is also not a stage in the modernization process.

Question 9

Walt W.Rostow was an influential critic of modernization theory.

Accepted Answer

Walt W. Rostow was a proponent of modernization theory, not a critic. He is best known for his work "The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto," which outlines the stages of economic development through which he theorized countries must pass to achieve modern, industrial economies.

Question 10

Some sociologists argue that the problem of global stratification lies not in the inability of powerful nations to "deal" effectively with poverty elsewhere but in the consumer habits of those people living in the richer nations.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true according to some sociologists who argue that global stratification is not just caused by the inability of rich nations to address poverty in poorer regions, but also by the consumer habits of people in wealthy countries. These habits include the demand for cheap products produced by low-wage workers, consumption of meat and dairy products that contribute to environmental degradation, and over-consumption of resources like oil and gas.

Question 11

The quantity and quality of consumption in high-income nations has no bearing on the standards of living of people living in low-income nations.

Accepted Answer

The high consumption and demand for resources in high-income nations often leads to the exploitation and depletion of resources in low-income nations, which can impact the standards of living of people living in those nations. Additionally, global economic systems are often structured in a way that perpetuates inequality, making it difficult for people in low-income nations to improve their standards of living.

Question 12

Critics of the modernization theory argue that this theory is Eurocentric and flawed.

Accepted Answer

Critics argue that modernization theory assumes that all countries should follow the Western model of development and fails to account for cultural, historical, and political differences among nations. It also overlooks the unequal distribution of power and resources in the global system, perpetuating the dominance of Western countries over the rest of the world. Therefore, it is considered to be Eurocentric and flawed.

Question 13

Dependency theory explains global inequality in terms of the historical exploitation of poor nations by richer nations.

Accepted Answer

Dependency theory argues that poor countries have been historically exploited and dependent on richer countries, which has perpetuated their underdevelopment and poverty. This has led to a global system of inequality where richer countries dominate and extract resources from poorer countries.

Question 14

Foreign aid for low-income nations is often linked with the political aims of the lender.

Accepted Answer

This statement is generally true. Many developed countries use foreign aid as a tool to pursue their diplomatic and geopolitical goals in low-income nations. This can involve promoting democracy and human rights, supporting strategic allies, or using aid as leverage to influence policy decisions. However, there are exceptions where aid is given purely for humanitarian purposes without any political motive.

Question 15

South Korea has recently been reclassified from a middle-income to a high-income economy.

Accepted Answer

South Korea was officially reclassified as a high-income economy by the World Bank in July 2020, moving up from its previous classification as a middle-income economy.

Question 16

Modernization theory has its roots in the conflict tradition.

Accepted Answer

Modernization theory is rooted in the functionalist tradition, focusing on how societies progress and develop through stages, rather than the conflict tradition, which emphasizes social change through conflict and power struggles.

Question 17

Relative poverty is calculated by comparing a person's income with the income of others.

Accepted Answer

Relative poverty is indeed based on a comparison of an individual's income with the income of others in their society or country. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the median income.

Question 18

Some analysts have suggested that the problem of inequality lies not in excess but in poverty.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some analysts have suggested that the problem...

Question 19

In order to protect their agricultural industries,high-income countries provide enormous subsidies to farmers and large agricultural corporations.

Accepted Answer

High-income countries do provide large subsidies to their farmers and agricultural corporations in order to protect their domestic industries. This creates an uneven playing field for farmers in developing countries who cannot compete with the artificially low prices of heavily subsidized crops from the developed countries.

Question 20

According to the World Health Organization,infectious diseases are now largely under control in most developing nations as a result of improved sanitation.

Accepted Answer

While improved sanitation can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases, it is not true that infectious diseases are largely under control in most developing nations. Many developing nations still struggle with high rates of infectious diseases, including diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections. Additionally, the emergence of new infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, highlights the ongoing challenge of infectious diseases in both developing and developed nations.

Quiz 9: Global Stratification