Consumer Expenditure Survey: Income Impact on Spending and Social Inequality
2 min read
Purpose Use the 2022 BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey to examine how income affects spending patterns and contributes to social inequality. [bls.gov]Links to an external site. Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2022Links to an external site. Directions Select two income groups from the report and answer the questions below using data from the report. Use the line that says Item and choose income groups from Less than $15,000 to $200, 000 and more. Part I: Data Comparison (20 Points) Which two income groups did you select? (2 pts) What is the average income (mean) for each group after taxes? (4 pts) What is the average (mean( annual expenditure for each group? (4 pts) Compare spending in the following categories and identify one key difference: Housing Food Healthcare (10 pts) Part II: Social Analysis (20 Points) What evidence of economic inequality do you see in the data? (5 pts) Which spending category appears to place the greatest burden on lower-income households? Explain. (5 pts) How might income affect a family's access to housing, healthcare, education, or healthy food? (5 pts) Which sociological concept best relates to your findings (e.g., social class, poverty, social stratification, life chances)? Explain. (5 pts) Part III: Reflection (10 Points) What social problem does this data help illustrate? (5 pts) In 3-5 sentences, summarize what you learned about income inequality and its effects on everyday life. (5 pts) Requirements Answer all 10 questions. Use at least three specific data points from the report. Cite the BLS report in APA format. Total: 50 Points.
For further reading, see this external resource.
You can also explore more resources on our website.
