The widening of the income gap and it's implications on social stratification

Abstract

This study deals on how different aspects of life effect the social stratification issue. Education, Income, and Employment are the aspects that have influenced the society along the years. A brief summary is given about how the social stratification levels are formed. Since people live within a society, it is seen that cultural backgrounds and statuses automatically constructs the social stratification. Literature review reveals that the Sociology Masters agree in their definition about social stratification and therefore such definitions can easily be applied to the situation in Malta. Various surveys conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) were used to gather the essential information. Relevant data and other information that was already available from such surveys were used in order to construct the stratification in the local scenario. From the study carried out, it is observed that even though social stratifications exist, one could try to change one's life by going up or down the social ladder. Being eager to improve one's self and by having the resources available, one can enhance the life situation. On the other hand, being weak and having no resources available, tends to leave the individual at a standstill or even in a worse situation, than the initial one within the society. It could be noticed that by having an increase in the upper and the lower level of income earners, an expansion in the income gap is achieved. This leads to the shrinking of the middle level, and therefore effecting the social stratification system. In my study I shall therefore tackle the issues of social stratification and its factors being Education, Employment and Income. I shall also deal with the social mobility issue which develops and streams itself out due to the changing social levels. Further more the income gap issue is also discussed from the perspective of the Maltese scenario.