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Sociology 1013 Discussion Board Chapter 6 Official

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1. What does the term “economic surplus” mean? Why is it important to the
development of social complexity and social inequality?
The notion of an “economic surplus” indicates an excess amount of resources in the
hands of an individual or entity that has no viable use for it. In the context of contemporary
economics, an economic surplus identifies two significant indicators: producer surplus and
consumer surplus. The benefit of a surplus depends on the entities that are profiting from it,
either through increased means or a reduction in product price. From a social standpoint, an
economic surplus, or surplus in general, contributed to the development of social complexity and
inequality by segmenting society in financial and physical means. The excess of something (i.e.,
surplus) can refer to rampant wealth in comparison to others. The Surplus Theory of Social
Stratification, for example, defines wealth both in “fugitivity of wealth not needed to sustain the
production of more wealth and the tendency of wealth to flow into the hands of those who are
already wealthy” (Nolan & Lenski, 2014). Thus, the complexity of social systems are affected by
an economic surplus in the notion that some people will have more than others, and some will
have wealth that is no longer benefiting them in acquiring more wealth. Therefore, it is easy to
see the adversarial reaction to this type of wealth potential and it can complicate the social
system and create animosity amongst different social classes. Nonetheless, the development of
economic surplus disrupted the foundation of society that had established the pooling of
resources and supporting everyone in the community. The absence of a surplus, stratification,
and the state resulted in a community bond that could only be made possible by the absence of a
surplus and the failure to need a governing body or state apparatus to control inner relations.
Regardless of where one resides on the issue, it is interesting to see the dichotomy between the
social classes and the differing worldviews that existed from earlier societies till now. All of this

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(Last Name) 1 (Sociology 1013- Discussion Board- Chapter 6) (Institutional Affiliation) (Your Name) (Instructor Name) (Course Number) (Due Date) (Sociology 1013- Discussion Board- Chapter 6) (Last Name) 2 1. What does the term “economic surplus” mean? Why is it important to the development of social complexity and social inequality? The notion of an “economic surplus” indicates an excess amount of resources in the hands of an individual or entity that has no viable use for it. In the context of contemporary economics, an economic surplus identifies two significant indicators: producer surplus and consumer surplus. The benefit of a surplus depends on the entities that are profiting from it, either through increased means or a reduction in product price. From a social standpoint, an economic surplus, or surplus in general, contributed to the development of social complexity and inequality by segmenting society in financial and physical means. The excess of something (i.e., surplus) can refer to rampant wealth in comparison to others. The Surplus Theory of Social Stratification, for example, defines wealth both in “fugitivity of wealth not needed to sustain the producti ...
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