Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Links, October 15, 2013

On precarity: "Once a French neologism, precarity is now a household name describing in equal measure the fate of low-wage, part-time holders of bullshit jobs, seasonal and migrant workers, creative entrepreneurs of the self, “graduates with no future,” foreclosed homeowners, debtors and increasingly even segments of the salaried bourgeoisie. At its most basic, a term for the economic uncertainty and existential angst associated with the dissolution of fixed employment, precarity also suggests the disintegration of stable societal bonds, occupational identities, social protections and a sense of entitlement and belonging characteristic of the old proletariat. In short, then, precarity is the experiential dimension of the crisis of the society of work dating back to the 70s and 80s." At the root seems to the massive raise in production potential, a problem discussed by Chris Dillow.
Dani Rodrik on the perils of premature deindustrialization, Gavin Kennedy's response. There is also a discussion in Marginal Revolution: one comment "Employment in manufacturing may be low in Brazil but manufacturing still contributes ~30% of their GDP.
Ergo manufacturing hasn’t declined; manufacturing just needs fewer people these days. That’s a global trend."

Commonwealth Bank of Australia sends executives to an Indian village.

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