Document 1 During a public hearing at the Montevideo city council in Uruguay, a market trader called Rosa Mendez testified that small business owners in her...

Part (a): What does the term 'wealth inequality' mean [2 marks]

Wealth inequality is the unequal distribution of assets, property, and financial resources among individuals or groups in a society [1], meaning that some people own far more than others [1]. Wealth is different from income: income is what people earn, while wealth refers to accumulated assets such as property, savings, investments, and possessions.

Part (b): Evidence from Document 1 showing that wealth is unevenly distributed in Uruguay [2 marks]

Small business owners earn barely enough to cover rent and food [1], while owners of large supermarket chains in the same city accumulate vast profits [1]. This contrast within the same city illustrates how wealth is concentrated at the top while those at the bottom struggle to meet basic needs.

Part (c): One way in which poverty can force children out of education [4 marks]

Up to four marks for a developed explanation.

Families living in poverty may need their children to contribute to household income by working [1]. As illustrated in Document 1, when a family's earnings from one adult are insufficient to meet basic needs such as rent and food [1], children may leave school to help [1], for example by working in a market stall or taking on other paid employment [1]. This removes them from education at a critical stage.

Part (d): One sociological term for a small group of wealthy and powerful people at the top of society [2 marks]

Elite [2] (or ruling class, bourgeoisie, or upper class). Any valid sociological term with brief clarification receives full marks. In Marxist sociology, this group is called the bourgeoisie; in elite theory, they are simply the elite - a small group that holds a disproportionate share of wealth and power.

Part (e): Impact of leaving education early on a young person's future life chances [4 marks]

Up to four marks.

• Without qualifications, young people are limited to low-paid manual or unskilled jobs [1-2].
• They are less likely to achieve upward social mobility because professional careers typically require educational credentials [1-2].

Education is widely regarded as the main avenue for social mobility in modern societies. Leaving education early effectively closes off the route to higher-status occupations and higher incomes, making it very difficult to escape poverty.

Part (f): How sociologists measure social class in modern industrial societies [6 marks]

Up to six marks for a developed explanation.

• Occupation is the most widely used indicator [1], with sociologists classifying jobs into categories from professional to unskilled manual [1].
• Income and wealth are also used [1], measuring how much money and assets a person or household has [1].
• Some sociologists use a combination of factors including education level, housing type, and lifestyle to build a fuller picture of class position [1].
• The Registrar General's scale and the NS-SEC are examples of classification systems used in some countries [1].

Part (g): Arguments about the relationship between capitalism and social stratification [8 marks]

Up to eight marks for a developed discussion.

• Marxists argue that capitalism creates two main classes: the bourgeoisie (who own the means of production) and the proletariat (who sell their labour) [1-2].
• The relationship between these classes is exploitative because the bourgeoisie profit from the labour of the proletariat while paying them less than the value they produce [1-2].
• This exploitation generates and maintains social stratification by concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a small group [1-2].
• Weber agreed that class was important but argued that stratification also involves status and power, meaning capitalism is not the only source of inequality [1-2].
• Functionalists counter that capitalism allows rewards to flow to the most talented, which they see as beneficial rather than exploitative [1].

Part (h): How social inequality based on wealth affects different areas of people's lives [7 marks]

Up to seven marks, with examples.

• Health: Wealthy people can afford nutritious food, private medical care, and gym memberships [1], while poorer people may have limited access to healthcare and suffer diet-related illness [1].
• Education: Children from wealthy families attend better-resourced schools and receive private tutoring [1], while children from poor families may leave school early to work, as shown in Document 1 [1].
• Housing: The wealthy live in spacious, well-maintained homes in safe areas [1], while the poor may live in overcrowded or substandard accommodation [1].
• Leisure: Wealthy individuals have resources for travel and cultural activities [1], while those in poverty have limited leisure options.