Abstract

CATTANI, Antonio David. Socioeconomic inequalities: concepts and research problems.Translated byNicholas Rands. Sociologias [online]. 2007, vol.3Selected edition, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1517-4522.

The issue of socioeconomic inequalities is by and large addressed in terms of "extreme poverty" detached from the relational dimensions with "extreme wealth". The imbalance that characterises the latter is a result of multifaceted processes leading to the emergence of complex forms of appropriation and private enjoyment of socially produced wealth. Sociology needs to return to the debate in terms of social class and formulate new concepts for understanding the consequences of the current process on society as a whole, covering substantial wealth, personification of wealth, the affluent classes.  At the same time it should be recognised that objective material hindrances and prejudice exist, which need to be overcome to allow progress towards the production of critical knowledge about the division of society into social classes and the forms of power and of subordination.

Keywords : social theories; socioeconomic inequalities; substantial wealth; wealth concentration; personification of wealth.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in English     · English ( pdf )