The Uses of Global Poverty: How Economic Inequality Benefits the West

   Sociologist Herbert Gans published an article entitled "The Uses of Poverty: The Poor Pay All". In the article, Gans utilized a conservative theoratical perspective in sociology, functionalism, to inquire about the persistence of poverty in America. Priced good of reasonable quality enjoyed by Western consumers is underpinned by the low-waged work done in low income countries.Labor cost typically constitute a high percentage of a company's expenditures. By reducing labor costs, companies can both keep prices reasonable and raise profit margins. Poor states may sell raw goods at low prices to Western states, which can transform the resource into a more valuable finished poduct. The position of the poor states in the world economy makes it less likely that they can derive the full benefit of the resources they possess for the government and people.The poor provide a pool of guinea pigs for the testing of medicines developed for use primarily in the West. Poorer states like India have become intellectual feeders of well-educated and bright individuals whose skills cannot be fully rewarded in less developed states.
    Global poverty benefits inhabitants of wealthy countries, who can feel good about helping the global poor through charitable work and charitable giving. Those who inhabit the wealthy corners of the world feel good about themselves for sharing their good fortune.The overdevelpoment of the West may well be a big threat. While the West derive the benefits and bonuses of these econmic inequalities, it seems likely that our efforts to support, advise, and assist the less developed states will remain at levels that are financially and politically convinient and feasible, and will target survival rather than true prosperity for those outside our gated privileged, greedy Western neighborhood.