Work

• Decline in agricultural work

• More service oriented jobs

• Dual Labor market -- labor market consists of two distinct sectors.

a) Primary sector -- comprise of professional and managerial job. Commands high wages, status, good work conditions, stable employment, opportunity for advancement.

b) Secondary sector -- includes semi skilled, non-farm labor, service work. Characterized by low wage jobs, poor working conditions, instability, none/very few advancement opportunities.

• Labor unions -- organizations that workers use to improve wages and work conditions.

• Profession -- prestigious white-collar occupation that requires extensive education and training.

• Underground economy -- economic activities that are not reported to the government.

Technology and Skill requirement

• Skill upgrading thesis -- technology increases required skills.

• Deskilling thesis -- technology decreases skills due to automation.

• Mixed effect thesis -- some skills requirement are increases while others are reduced.

Corporations

• Is a specific legal form of organization of persons and resources that has been constituted for the purpose of conducting business. It has rights and liabilities distinct from those of their members.

• Conglomerate -- giant corporation composed of smaller corporations.

• Interlocking directories -- network of people who serve simultaneously on the boards of directorship of many corporations.

• Large corporations form part of the noncompetitive sector. Competitive sectors is limited to the smaller businesses.

• Monopoly -- market dominated by a single producer.

• Oligopoly -- market dominated by a few producers.

Group Work

• Discuss how computers are altering the character of work.