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If over the last 30 years China had truly enforced child-labor laws, if it made sure factories paid out overtime, if it allowed independent, or at least effectual, unions, if it didn't intentionally lower the purchasing power of its citizens in order to export more goods, would the average Chinese person be much poorer than they are today? Sweatshops are only necessary for economic growth if you look at as a pure numbers game; the vast majority of wealth created in China over the past few decades has flowed upwards, away from the average person. The Chinese state has made sure at least some has trickled down, there is a Chinese middle class now, but its nothing compared to the fortune the Oligarchs/Bourgeoisie/upper class have stolen. As others have mentioned, the 'Sweatshops are necessary' argument also falls on its face when you consider the environmental factors. Even ignoring climate change, our hypothetical 'girl from the countryside' doesn't really get to enjoy the benefits of China's development when she dies of lung cancer at age 30.
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Feb 21, 2012 01:11
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| # ¿ Apr 27, 2024 18:04 |
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Democrazy posted:You cannot simply impose Western high-capital worker standards of living without development taking place in the economy, as higher standards of living are byproducts of productivity that is essential for the basic functioning of the market. Just want to point not that standards of living have very little to do with general productivity! In capitalist societies the general standard of living is determined by the relationship between labor, capitalists, and the state. Consider the United States of America; after World War 2 there was a informal deal that business would distribute some of its profit downwards and that a mildly social democratic government would stop any extreme exploitation. The average white, male citizen experienced a high standard of living, and this only increased as general productivity rose. However, since the 1970s the American deal has been broken, and while productivity has continued to rise wages have stagnated and costs have risen; leading to an overall decrease in the average standard of living. The government has also switched from being social democratic to being neoliberal, and the priority has shifted from securing the welfare of the general public to securing the welfare of the corporations. While a productive base is necessary, most of the time the standard of life in any country has a lot more to deal with the social structure and relationship between labor and capital. The general poverty of many Chinese citizens is a specific policy supported by Chinese business and the Chinese state, if it wasn't then there would be no need to destroy independent unions or imprison union leaders who are trying to increase the general power of labor. Scrree fucked around with this message at 01:55 on Feb 21, 2012 |
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Feb 21, 2012 01:32
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