What social and economic inequalities exist in the USA?
The social and economic issues facing the USA, including inequality and poverty, differences between ethnic groups, health and education, and government responses to these issues.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on social and economic issues in the USA, covering income and wealth inequality, poverty, differences between ethnic groups in health, education and employment, and the government responses that try to tackle them.
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What this dot point is asking
The SQA wants you to describe the social and economic issues facing the USA, explain inequalities between groups, and describe and evaluate the government responses that try to tackle them. This supports -mark "evaluate the effectiveness" essays.
The answer
Income, wealth and poverty
Inequality between ethnic groups
Health and education
Educational attainment also varies by income and ethnicity. Because much school funding is tied to local property taxes, wealthy districts can spend far more per pupil, which entrenches disadvantage across generations.
Government responses
Examples in context
The Affordable Care Act, passed in , shows the pattern: it sharply cut the number of uninsured Americans by expanding Medicaid and subsidising insurance, a clear success, yet millions remain uninsured and medical debt is still a leading cause of personal bankruptcy. School funding tied to local property taxes means a child in an affluent suburb may attend a far better resourced school than one in a poor inner-city district, illustrating how economic inequality reproduces itself through education. Using these concrete cases lets a Higher answer evaluate effectiveness rather than just listing problems.
Try this
Q1. Describe two social or economic inequalities in the USA. [4 marks]
- Cue. Gaps in income and wealth, higher poverty among some ethnic groups, or unequal access to health care and education.
Q2. Evaluate the effectiveness of US government responses to social and economic inequality. [12 marks]
- Cue. Weigh welfare, affirmative action and health programmes against criticisms of cost, limited reach and persistent inequality.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA Higher 202020 marksEvaluate the effectiveness of government responses to social and economic inequality in a world power you have studied.Show worked answer →
A -mark essay on the USA: up to marks for knowledge and understanding and up to for analysis, evaluation and a sustained conclusion.
KU marks come from accurate detail on the inequalities (income and wealth gaps, higher poverty among Black and Hispanic Americans, the lack of universal health care) and the responses (Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, food assistance, affirmative action, federal education funding).
Analysis and evaluation marks come from judging effectiveness: the Affordable Care Act cut the uninsured rate, but cost and access gaps remain and ethnic inequalities persist. A sustained judgement is the discriminator.
SQA Higher 202212 marksAnalyse the social and economic inequalities affecting different groups in a world power you have studied.Show worked answer →
A -mark analysis question on the USA, roughly half KU and half analysis. Markers reward developed explanation supported by evidence, not a list.
KU should cover income and wealth gaps, poverty concentrated among some ethnic groups, and unequal access to health care and education, with the link between funding tied to local property taxes and entrenched disadvantage.
Analysis marks come from explaining why inequality falls unevenly on Black and Hispanic Americans, linking historic discrimination to current outcomes in income, health and attainment. A clear judgement is the discriminator.
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Sources & how we know this
- SQA Higher Modern Studies Course Specification — SQA (2018)