Social inequality occurs when resources in a given society are distributed unevenly, typically through
norms of allocation, that engender specific patterns along lines of socially defined categories of persons.
Economic inequality, usually described on the basis of the
unequal distribution of income or
wealth, is a frequently studied type of social inequality. Though the disciplines of
economics and
sociology generally use different theoretical approaches to examine and explain economic inequality, both fields are actively involved in researching this inequality. However, social and natural resources other than purely economic resources are also unevenly distributed in most societies and may contribute to
social status. Norms of allocation can also affect the distribution of
rights and
privileges,
social power, access to
public goods such as
education or the
judicial system, adequate
housing,
transportation,
credit and
financial services such as
banking and other social
goods and services.