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First, using a simple story briefly explain how economic inequality may create different incentives for wealthy vs. poor parents to choose a parenting style and then describe how this can in turn translate into intergenerational inequality. Second, consider a poor family assisted to move into a better-quality neighbourhood, such as through the MTO scheme we learned about last week. Will this family face different incentives for parenting choices now? Explain reasons why and why not.

User JBH
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Final answer:

Economic inequality affects parenting styles, leading to potential intergenerational inequality where wealthy parents can provide more opportunities than poor parents. A poor family moving to a better neighborhood through MTO may have new parenting incentives, but underlying financial challenges might limit changes in parenting style.

Step-by-step explanation:

Economic inequality can create different incentives for parenting styles among wealthy and poor families. Wealthy parents can afford to invest in education, extracurricular activities, and provide connections that give their children significant advantages. In contrast, poor parents are often limited by their circumstances and may adopt an "accomplishment of natural growth" approach, leading to potentially fewer opportunities for their children. This creates a cycle of intergenerational inequality where the socioeconomic status of the parents can heavily influence that of their children.

A family moving into a better-quality neighborhood through the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) scheme might face different parenting incentives. The improved environment could offer better schools, safer surroundings, and a community that supports upward mobility. This could encourage parents to make different educational and extracurricular choices for their children, potentially mitigating some effects of economic inequality. However, the underlying challenges related to financial stability and access to resources may still persist, impacting the extent of those different parenting choices.

User John Fonseka
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