Chapter Seven Work and Economic Life

Objectives To provide an introduction to the debates on how work is defined by sociologists and others.To provide an introduction to the debates on how work is defined by sociologists and others. To review the global and local changes in the way that economic production is organised and managed.To review the global and local changes in the way that economic production is organised and managed. To identity who participates in the labour market and paid work, and who is excluded.To identity who participates in the labour market and paid work, and who is excluded.

Defining Work “Expenditure of human effort and energy in providing some good or in transforming part of the world, however small.” (p. 117)“Expenditure of human effort and energy in providing some good or in transforming part of the world, however small.” (p. 117) –Sociologists interested in the way that work is defined and socially constructed –Includes paid and unpaid work –Does not include leisure activities Defining ‘leisure’ can be problematicDefining ‘leisure’ can be problematic

Founding Fathers Marx, Weber and Durkheim all contributed to sociological understandings of ‘work’Marx, Weber and Durkheim all contributed to sociological understandings of ‘work’ –Marx Work in Capitalist society benefits some and disadvantages/exploits othersWork in Capitalist society benefits some and disadvantages/exploits others –Weber Interested in the organisation of work, and its bureaucratic and rational characteristicsInterested in the organisation of work, and its bureaucratic and rational characteristics –Durkheim Focused on work and the division of labourFocused on work and the division of labour

Industrialisation Developed during the nineteenth century in EuropeDeveloped during the nineteenth century in Europe –In an industrial society work was: Performed outside the homePerformed outside the home Based on an exchange of work for wagesBased on an exchange of work for wages Performed predominantly by menPerformed predominantly by men Structured around the needs of the employer and the machinery of the factoryStructured around the needs of the employer and the machinery of the factory –Based on a Fordist style of work Mass production and mass consumptionMass production and mass consumption

De-industrialisation Developed in the late twentieth centuryDeveloped in the late twentieth century –De-industrialisation is characterised by: A decline in factory-type workA decline in factory-type work Uncertainty in employmentUncertainty in employment Rising unemployment and povertyRising unemployment and poverty De-unionisation and the loss of favourable conditions for workersDe-unionisation and the loss of favourable conditions for workers –Based on a Post-Fordist style of work Workers must be flexible and internationally mobileWorkers must be flexible and internationally mobile

Work and Inequality The labour market is divided into those who are privileged and those who are notThe labour market is divided into those who are privileged and those who are not –Based in part on access to well-paid employment Some people more likely to be excluded from well-paid work than othersSome people more likely to be excluded from well-paid work than others –Women –Ethnic Minorities

The Dual Labour Market Highlights distinction between primary sector and secondary sectorHighlights distinction between primary sector and secondary sector –Primary sector characterised by: Good wagesGood wages Good working conditionsGood working conditions Domination by menDomination by men –Secondary sector characterised by: Low wagesLow wages Part-time and casual workPart-time and casual work Domination by womenDomination by women

Summary Marx, Weber and Durkheim were interested in various aspects of the role of work in societyMarx, Weber and Durkheim were interested in various aspects of the role of work in society There have been two major changes in the nature of work over the last 200 yearsThere have been two major changes in the nature of work over the last 200 years –Industrialisation and de-industrialisation De-industrialisation has increased income inequalityDe-industrialisation has increased income inequality –Especially for women and ethnic minorities