Kinsley Davis and Wilbert Moore

Social Stratification Defined:

"Social inequality is...an unconsciously evolved device by which societies ensure that the most important positions are conscientiously filled by the most qualified persons" (48)

Assumptions: Duties of various positions...

1. not equally pleasant to perform
2. require various degrees of talent & ability to perform
3. vary in their functional importance to society
4. Assumptions:society must have:
   • some rewards that act as inducements to fill the positions and ensure the duties are performed
   • way of distributing these rewards among various positions

3 Types of rewards:

1. Economic incentives: sustenance & comfort (money)
2. Esthetic incentives: humor and diversion (video games)
3. Symbolic incentives: self-respect and ego (Order of Canada)

Two Determinants of Positional Rank (Reward):

1. Functional importance:
   1. functional uniqueness: no other position can perform its duties (e.g. Prime Minister)
   2. Dependence: degree to which other positions are dependent on it (entire country; elected & appointed government positions)
2. Scarcity of Personnel; Talent; Training:
   1. the scarcity in the supply of personnel for a functionally important position,
   2. the availability of talent to fill that position
   3. the difficulty of the training for the positions

Summary:

The rewards of a position depend on:
1. its functional importance
2. scarcity of personnel:
   • talent availability
   • training difficulty

Final Chart: functional theory of stratification
Differential Tuition Fees: support or challenge functional theory of stratification?
Income contingent fees
Differential fees for visa students