Question 1

Lloyd has been studying Uganda for decades.Based on his research,he believes that barriers to trade,minimum wage laws,and environmental regulations that affect Ugandan businesses are getting in the way of development and should be minimized or eliminated.His view is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Lloyd's belief that barriers to trade, minimum wage laws, and environmental regulations should be minimized or eliminated aligns with the principles of neoliberalism, which advocates for free markets and limited government intervention in the economy. Marxism and social democracy, on the other hand, prioritize collective ownership and regulation of the economy, while anarchism rejects centralized government authority altogether. Democratic planning involves a balance of government intervention and democratic decision-making in the economy.

Question 2

Carolina is using world-systems theory to research countries that have resources that tend to flow to the most wealthy nations,which then sell them back to those countries for a profit.She is studying what kind of countries?

Accepted Answer

Peripheral countries are those that provide resources to core countries and often buy back finished goods, fitting the description in the question.

Question 3

After studying the political economy of modern Germany,Fran concludes that we must consider the world capitalist economy as a single unit instead of looking at individual countries.Her view is best described by what theory or set of theories?

Accepted Answer

Fran's view that the world capitalist economy should be considered as a single unit aligns with the tenets of world-systems theory, which posits that the global economy is comprised of core, semi-peripheral, and peripheral countries that interact and are interconnected through trade and economic relations. This perspective emphasizes the importance of analyzing global economic connections in understanding the political economy of individual countries.

Question 4

Ida studies the economic landscape of Bolivia.Her research has led her to believe that Bolivia will never develop until it abandons its traditional culture and instead focuses on productive investment.Her view is best described by what theory or set of theories?

Accepted Answer

Ida's view aligns with the modernization theory, which argues that traditional cultures and practices hinder economic development and that modernization and industrialization are necessary for progress.

Question 5

Dependency theories can be described as:

Accepted Answer

Dependency theories are Marxist theories that argue that the poverty of low-income countries is directly linked to their exploitation by wealthy countries and multinational corporations. These theories suggest that the economic development of rich countries is dependent on the underdevelopment of poor countries.

Question 6

Morgan takes the common view that economics must be viewed as independent nations engaged in diplomatic and economic relations with one another.Why would world-systems theorists critique this idea?

Accepted Answer

World-systems theorists would argue that viewing the world as independent nations engaged in diplomatic and economic relations with one another misses the larger picture of a single world capitalist system. They view the world system as a single entity made up of various regions or zones, each with a different level of development and position within the global economic hierarchy. This perspective sees the world system as a whole, rather than a collection of separate but interconnected national economies.

Question 7

The process whereby Western nations established their rule in parts of the world away from their home territories is called:

Accepted Answer

Colonialism refers to the process of establishing and maintaining political, economic, and cultural control over a foreign territory or population. This was primarily carried out by Western nations during the period of European exploration and expansion in the 16th-19th centuries, as well as during the era of American imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Socialism and Manifest Destiny are not directly related to this process, while Southern hegemony and internal development do not accurately describe Western imperialism outside of their own territories.

Question 8

Why might dependency theorists criticize modernization theory?

Accepted Answer

Dependency theorists criticize modernization theory by highlighting that traditional societies are often low income due to historical colonialism and oppression, which modernization theory tends to overlook.

Question 9

Yessenia studies mid-twentieth century India.In her studies,she notes how Great Britain established direct rule over India for profit.She is taking note of what process?

Accepted Answer

Yessenia's notes about British direct rule over India for profit indicate that she is studying colonialism, which involves a foreign power exerting political, economic, and social control over another country or region for their own benefit.

Question 10

Keynesian economists begin with the assumption that the state should regulate economic policy for everyone's benefit.Why might sociologists who use market-oriented theories be critical of this idea?

Accepted Answer

Market-oriented theorists believe that free market competition without state interference is the most efficient way to allocate resources and promote economic growth. They may argue that excessive state regulation can stifle innovation and lead to unintended consequences.

Question 11

The doctrine of neoliberalism asserts that underdeveloped countries can develop by freeing up markets and allowing foreign corporations to operate within their borders.Why might dependency theorists critique this idea?

Accepted Answer

Dependency theorists argue that underdeveloped countries cannot rely on foreign corporations to bring development. In fact, they argue that foreign corporations exploit these countries for their own benefit and perpetuate global inequality. Dependency theorists would call for revolutionary changes that prioritize local development and control over resources.

Question 12

Modernization theorist W.W.Rostow viewed economic growth as going through several stages,which he likened to the journey of an airplane.All of the following are stages in his theory EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

According to Rostow's theory, the five stages of economic growth are as follows: traditional society, preconditions for takeoff, takeoff to economic growth, drive to technological maturity, and high mass consumption. "Investment into nascent industries" is not a stage in Rostow's theory.

Question 13

Alyssa is a fierce advocate for indigenous rights and ways of life.Why might she be critical of the modernization theory of development?

Accepted Answer

Alyssa's advocacy for indigenous rights and ways of life suggests that she values traditional societies and their practices. Modernization theory, on the other hand, promotes the idea that traditional societies should abandon their traditional practices and embrace modern economic institutions in order to develop. Therefore, she would be critical of this theory for conflicting with her beliefs about the value of traditional lifestyles.

Question 14

Mustafa is a world-systems theorist who studies the world's most powerful countries and outlines how those nations take the largest shares of the world's wealth.He is studying what kind of countries?

Accepted Answer

Mustafa's study focuses on the world's most powerful countries that take the largest shares of the world's wealth, which aligns with the characteristics of core countries in world-systems theory. Core countries are economically dominant and are characterized by having strong economies, advanced technologies, and political stability.

Question 15

________ argues that the world capitalist economic system is not merely a collection of independent countries engaged in diplomatic and economic relations with one another but rather must be understood as a single unit.

Accepted Answer

World-systems theory, developed by Immanuel Wallerstein, argues that the world capitalist economic system should be studied as a single unit, rather than a collection of independent countries. It suggests that the system is structured around a core/periphery model, with core countries dominating the economic and political activity and periphery countries being exploited for resources and labor. Wallerstein argues that this structure drives historical change and shapes the interactions between countries.

Question 16

Modernization theory argues that:

Accepted Answer

Modernization theory argues that for low-income societies to develop economically, they must adopt modern economic institutions, technologies, and cultural values that emphasize savings and productive investment. This means giving up their traditional ways that may not be conducive to economic development. Rapid industrialization at any cost is not emphasized, and there is no mention of high-income countries having a responsibility to give free resources to low-income countries. Lastly, modernization theory does not argue for state-run economies as the most efficient for creating modernized countries.

Question 17

The United States would be considered one of the ________ countries in world-systems theory.

Accepted Answer

According to world-systems theory, there is a hierarchical division of countries based on their economic and political power. The core countries are the dominant ones, with advanced economies and high levels of industrialization, while peripheral and semi-peripheral countries have less economic and political power. The United States is considered a core country in this model due to its dominant position in the global economy and its high level of industrialization.

Question 18

Neoliberalism asserts that:

Accepted Answer

Neoliberalism advocates for free-market forces and minimal government restrictions on business as the only way to achieve economic growth. This philosophy opposes the idea of the state involving itself heavily in the economy, which is why option C is not correct. Option B describes liberal social values, while option D suggests social democratic policies, both of which are not the pillars of neoliberalism. Option E talks about democratic and cooperative industries, which are not necessarily the focus of neoliberalism.

Question 19

Alejandra believes that poverty in Colombia is largely due to exploitation by the United States and multinational corporations originating in the United States.Her view is best described as corresponding to what theory or set of theories?

Accepted Answer

Alejandra's view aligns with dependency theories, which argue that underdeveloped countries like Colombia are exploited by more developed countries and multinational corporations.

Question 20

Salvatore studies the debate around universal healthcare in the United States.He prefers economic theories that suggest that the best possible outcomes in healthcare happen when the government does not interfere in economic decisions.Lorenzo prefers what theory or set of theories?

Accepted Answer

Market-oriented theories advocate for minimal government intervention in economic decisions, aligning with Salvatore's preference for non-interference in healthcare.

Quiz 8: Global Inequality