Value Of Labor Research Articles

Ideology at Work? Rethinking Reproduction

The low value of reproductive labor, and the related “crisis of care,” are often attributed to gendered attitudes about work. This article traces this explanation to the attempted synthesis of Marxist and feminist theories of ideology in the 1970s and offers a sympathetic critique with implications for both contemporary theories of labor and the “new ideology critique.” It reconstructs the explanatory role of ideology in feminist analyses of unwaged housework and tracks its uptake in theories of “reproductive labor” more broadly, via what I call the “naturalization thesis.” While these analyses have been influential, I show that they do not provide a convincing account of either gender oppression or the low value of reproductive labor. I offer an alternative explanation for the latter rooted in labor processes and patterns of capital accumulation and argue for the reintegration of ideology critique with the critique of political economy.

Changes in the problem and subject field of labor sociology against the backdrop of the time challenges (Based on publications in the journal “Sociological Studies” over 50 years)

Trends in the problem and subject field of labor sociology were identified by referring to the Sociological Studies journal publications for 1974–2023. An array of 351 articles on labor sociology was selected for qualitative and quantitative content analysis. Eleven problematic subject areas of research were identified by the criterion of the leading target of the article’s text. Fourtime frames in Russian society and economic development over the past 50 years have been distinguished to identify the time challenges that vary in content. Each period was provided with a brief description of the content of the research problem and subject areas, as well as interpretations thereof with due consideration of the time challenges. Analysis of the publications permitted to reveal that by the criteria of how frequent and stable the sociologists’ referrals to the selected areas have been, the core, the margins, and the mobile realm may be identified in the Russian sociology of labor. The core is formed by the areas related to the studies of labor attitudes, labor incentives, labor values, employee behavior, and job satisfaction. The areas – whose principal object of study is labor itself, along with its role and significance in both the society and the employees’ values as well as social problems of work at the enterprise – are adjacent to the core. The margins are formed by rare areas of research such as the workers’ capacity to act, manifestations of independence and involvement in the organization’s affairs, problems of the socioeconomic standing of workers and degree of labor protection, labor culture, shortage and reproduction of workers. The mobile realm of labor sociology is composed by the areas treated generally depending on the context of time and the aggravation of particular problem situations (labor organization, labor relations, precarity of labor, etc). We observed adequate coverage of the critical time challenges in publications in all those time frames; however, that coverage was reactive and appeared to lack forward-looking ideas that are ahead of theory and practice.

Changing values of work (based on the materials from Russian and foreign publications)

The sphere of work, which was previously central to Soviet and Russian sociology constantly covered in the Sociological Studies journal, is no longer so, although work remains an important subject of research in the conditions of the challenging digital transformation and growing uncertainty. Based on the analysis of domestic and foreign publications, the authors tried to identify current trends in the development of research that reflect global and regional changes in labor. Solving this problem allows the authors to show which problems attract the prime attention of scientists from different countries, and define the prospects for the future research. The authors show the discussion conducted by researchers on the topic of changing labor values. Particular attention is paid to how precarization is analyzed and the growth of the “meaninglessness” of labor is argued. A significant similarity of the identified problems in Russia and foreign countries is emphasized, regardless of the fact that they belong to different levels of socio-economic development, differ in work culture and other characteristics.

Economic Analysis of Seed Spice Cultivation in Gujarat, India

The present investigation was carried out to study the cost of cultivation and returns per hectare of major seed spices in Gujarat. The study was conducted at Banaskantha district for cumin and fennel as per the second highest triennium average area of cumin and fennel and at Junagadh district for coriander as it shows the highest triennium average area of coriander respectively during the year of 2023-24. In Gujarat for 2023-24, cumin cultivation incurred significant costs with hired labour as the largest component at 15.80 per cent, followed closely by family labour (15.65%) and rental value of owned land (13.44%). Fennel farms saw average costs of ₹70468.90 per hectare, peaking at ₹71356.01 on large farms and lowest at ₹67208.33 on small farms, with family labour (17.25%), irrigation (16.04%) and land rental (15.64%) as major expenses. Similarly, coriander farms had an average cost of ₹75939.26 per hectare, highest on large farms at ₹76551.63 and lowest on small farms at ₹74160.06, with rental value on owned land (18.95%), hired labour (16.35%), and family labour (11.74%) being significant costs. Costs increased with farm size across all crops. Cumin proved most profitable with an input-output ratio of 1:3.08, compared to fennel (1:1.48) and coriander (1:1.76) in the same period.

A Comparison of Labor Competence of College Students in Different Educational Tracks: A Study Based on a Survey in Guangxi University of Foreign Languages

This article is a case study of students' labor competence in two different educational tracks from the Guangxi University of Foreign Languages. According to research findings, there was no significant difference in the overall level of labor competence between ordinary undergraduates and vocational students, and there were disparities in labor competence in specific dimensions, including labor consciousness, labor knowledge, labor qualities, and labor creativity, between the two groups. Ordinary undergraduates significantly outperformed vocational college students in the dimension of labor consciousness, whereas the latter scored higher in the dimension of labor knowledge. Both groups scored poorly in terms of labor creativity. Also discussed is the importance of cultivating innovation ability, building labor knowledge, shaping labor values, and improving off-campus labor education participation among college students.

Workforce Configuration in Charity Settings: A Forward-Looking Approach

Problem definition: Volunteers, the primary workforce for many charities, represent a complex labor pool; they are unreliable and exhibit substantial heterogeneity in both performance and affinity to the organization. Additionally, many volunteers engage not only to contribute but also to immerse themselves in a volunteering experience that, if rewarding, can inspire them to become future donors. However, practical approaches to volunteer management commonly neglect these traits and the consequential impact that tactical decision-making can have on nurturing potential future donations. Methodology/results: Building on a previous study, we propose a forward-looking volunteer scheduling model that accounts for the heterogeneity among volunteers, mitigates both understaffing and overstaffing costs, and explicitly correlates individual time contribution with their monetary donations. We provide analytical solutions when the charity can reliably estimate distributions (e.g., uniform distribution) from data and suggest a distribution-free method to offer actionable insights where data are limited or uncertain. Managerial implications: At the strategic level, by viewing volunteers as potential donors, the optimal staffing strategy balances meeting the charity’s labor needs and maximizing volunteers’ satisfaction, as this satisfaction influences their likelihood of becoming future donors. We show that charities could avert substantial losses by adopting an integrative approach, thereby challenging conventional organizational structures that compartmentalize volunteer and donor management. Our model suggests that building robust data infrastructures can significantly advance the charity’s core mission. Paradoxically, efforts to increase labor productivity may inadvertently undermine this objective. At the operational level, we provide an Excel-based decision support tool and a decision-tree framework to navigate optimal policies, determining when and how a charity can rely on episodic (less reliable) volunteers. Our results confirm that reducing uncertainty in volunteer turnout benefits charities. However, we also find that when labor value is low, episodic volunteers are preferred, whereas formal (reliable) volunteers are favored when labor value is high. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0363 .

LABOR VALUES IN THE PERCEPTION OF THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION IN THE CONDITIONS OF DIGITALIZATION

The purpose of the article is to explore the perception of work values as a marker of identity by the millennial generation in the context of the global digitalization of society. The millennial generation, being a significant part of the country’s economically active population, demonstrates its understanding of decent work, expressed in work preferences and value orientations, which, in turn, serves to determine the identity of this age group. Digitalization has contributed to the development and diversification of the employment sector by offering alternative forms, which has greatly changed the understanding of decent work. Based on data from a sociological study of formalized interviews among representatives of the millennial generation (n = 300), the key components of work values and their influence on the professional activity of representatives of the generation being studied were identified. The desire of millennials for career growth and professional self-improvement as the main labor value has been established; we can talk about a balance between external and internal labor orientations. It was revealed that an integral part of decent work for them is the presence of an expanded social package, including voluntary health insurance (VHI), and flexible work schedules. Millennials demonstrate high adaptability to changing conditions of the labor market and openness to innovation in organizing the labor process, which is manifested in a preference for remote forms of employment, opportunities for retraining and development. In the future, it is possible to study the attitudes towards work of millennials and centennials from a comparative perspective. The results of the article are of interest to those specializing in the field of sociology of labor and sociology of youth. The sociological research data can be used in the practical organization of labor activities to optimize personnel management and create a corporate culture that meets the needs of the new generation of workers.

The Youth of the Republic of Bashkortostan: Labor Values, Economic Behavior and Social Capital in Modern Society

This paper examines the situation of youth in the modern society of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The analysis of labor values, economic behavior and social capital of young people, as well as their role in shaping the future of the region, is carried out. The study is based on sociological data that allow us to identify the main trends and problems in the life of young people. In the course of the work, the works devoted to the labor values of youth, their economic behavior, as well as the issue of the social capital of young people were studied. Special attention is paid to the financial situation of young people, their economic values, such as attitudes to work, consumption, lending and savings, financial planning, and entrepreneurship. The issues of values, priorities and goals of the younger generation are also considered. The results of the study can be useful for the development of youth policy. В данной работе рассматривается положение молодёжи в современном обществе Республики Башкортостан. Проводится анализ трудовых ценностей, экономического поведения и социального капитала молодых людей, а также их роли в формировании будущего региона. Исследование опирается на социологические данные, которые позволяют выявить основные тенденции и проблемы в жизни молодёжи. В ходе работы были изучены труды, посвящённые трудовым ценностям молодёжи, её экономическому поведению, а также вопросу социального капитала молодых. Особое внимание уделяется финансовому положению молодёжи, её экономическим ценностям, таким как отношение к труду, потреблению, кредитованию и сбережениям, финансовому планированию, предпринимательству. Также рассматриваются вопросы ценностей, приоритетов и целей молодого поколения. Результаты исследования могут быть полезны для разработки молодежной политики.

European Union gender equality and work–life balance policies: managing tensions between the demands of production and reproduction

European Union (EU) gender equality policies increasingly acknowledge the existence of tensions between the demands of productive and reproductive labour, with the former defined as waged work and the latter as the (unpaid) activities reproducing the labour force and provisioning for caring needs. As women increasingly enter the labour market, the EU addresses the growing tensions through new gender equality policy initiatives, prompting the question of whether these recognise the value of reproductive labour to the economy. This article analyses the discourses of three EU institutions (the European Commission, Council of the EU and European Parliament) and finds that EU policy as a whole continues to prioritise the interests of the productive economy. This results in a loss of the emancipatory potential of its gender equality goals, in particular, for women from working-class, minority ethnic or migration backgrounds.

Unequal exchange of labour in the world economy

Researchers have argued that wealthy nations rely on a large net appropriation of labour and resources from the rest of the world through unequal exchange in international trade and global commodity chains. Here we assess this empirically by measuring flows of embodied labour in the world economy from 1995–2021, accounting for skill levels, sectors and wages. We find that, in 2021, the economies of the global North net-appropriated 826 billion hours of embodied labour from the global South, across all skill levels and sectors. The wage value of this net-appropriated labour was equivalent to €16.9 trillion in Northern prices, accounting for skill level. This appropriation roughly doubles the labour that is available for Northern consumption but drains the South of productive capacity that could be used instead for local human needs and development. Unequal exchange is understood to be driven in part by systematic wage inequalities. We find Southern wages are 87–95% lower than Northern wages for work of equal skill. While Southern workers contribute 90% of the labour that powers the world economy, they receive only 21% of global income.

Artificial Intelligence, Post-Work and Music Labor

The recent – purportedly rapid – development of AI tools has again resurrected the actuality of post-work u-/dystopias. Drawing on discursive topoi which have become popular since the post-WW2 automatization surge, AI post-work now advances into the field of white-collar labor, but also creative, artistic, and even music labor. In this paper I aim to analyze the emergent arrival of the post-work thesis into music labor. I will draw on prominent critics of automatization, AI and post-work discourses, such as Pierre Naville, Aaron Benanav and Jason Resnikoff, to show that these discourses are not only unsubstantiated, but are instrumentalized in order to depreciate the value of concrete labor in music production.

Disposability, social security, and the facts of work in Nicaragua’s sugarcane zone

ABSTRACT This article explores the instability of facts surrounding former sugarcane workers in Nicaragua with Chronic Kidney Disease of Non-Traditional Causes (CKDnt). CKDnt is a progressive disease that has been linked, albeit inconclusively, to working conditions in sugarcane plantations and other extreme environments. It emerged in the early twenty-first century, at a time when the social and political value of agricultural labor in Nicaragua and across the Americas was shifting due to the rise of new regimes of corporate responsibility and neoliberalized systems of state care. Partly as a result of a lack of conclusive knowledge about what causes the disease, former workers receive uneven medical and social benefits from both sugarcane corporations and the Nicaraguan social security system, the Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Social (INSS). This article traces the parallel emergence of Nicaragua’s agro-economy and the INSS during the twentieth century, and it draws on ethnographic research with ex-workers to understand how the making of facts about work and the making of facts about health shape each other. The article argues that the disposability of labor is not an inherent feature of monocrop capitalism; rather, disposability emerges as corporations and state authorities work strategically to manage the inherent porosity of the boundaries between plantations and their socio-political surroundings.

The cost of total hip arthroplasty: compare the hospitalization costs of national centralized procurement and national volume-based procurement.

With the increasing demand for joint replacement surgery in China, the government has successively issued the policies of national centralized procurement (NCP) and national volume-based procurement (NVBP) of artificial joints. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of NCP and NVBP policies on hospitalization cost, rehospitalization and reoperation rate of total hip arthroplasty (THA). In total, 347 patients who underwent THA from January 2019 to September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the implementation of NCP and NVBP, patients were divided into three groups: control group (n = 147), NCP group (n = 130), and NVBP group (n = 70). Patient-level data on the total hospitalization costs, rehospitalization rate, THA reoperation rate and inpatient component costs were collected before and after the implementation of the policies and Consumer Price Index was used to standardize the cost. After the implementation of NCP and NVBP, the total cost of hospitalization decreased by $817.41 and $3950.60 (p < 0.01), respectively. The implantation costs decreased from $5264.29 to $4185.53 and then rapidly to $1143.49 (p < 0.01), contributing to increased total cost savings. However, the cost of surgery and rehabilitation increased after NCP and NVBP implementation (p < 0.01). The proportion of implants decreased from 66.76 to 59.22% and then to 29.07%, whereas that of drugs increased from 7.98 to 10.11% and then to 12.06%. The proportion of operating expenses rose from 4.86 to 8.01% and then to 18.47%. Univariate linear regression analysis showed that hospital stay, NCP and NVBP were correlated with total hospitalization cost (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that hospital stay, NCP and NVBP were independent predictors of total hospitalization cost (p < 0.01). In this study, hospital stay, NCP, and NVBP were independent predictors of total inpatient costs. After the implementation of NVBP policy, the cost of implants and hospitalization has decreased significantly, and the technical labor value of medical staff has increased, but a multifaceted method is still needed to solve the problem of increasing costs of other consumables. Limitations of the study suggest the need for further and more comprehensive evaluation in the future.

Green Transformation: Trends and Prospects of Green Jobs in Romania

Green Transformation: Trends and Prospects of Green Jobs in Romania. This study investigates the trends and potential of green jobs in Romania, particularly focusing on sectors crucial to the green economy, such as agriculture, energy, and waste management. The emergence of green jobs signifies a shift towards ecological sustainability and economic resilience, highlighted by the growth in sectors A (Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing), D (Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply), and E (Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management, and Remediation Activities) from NACE rev.2 codes. The analysis reveals an evolving labor market, with an increase in sustainable agricultural practices and a shift towards more sustainable energy production methods. Furthermore, significant increases in average annual net wages across these sectors from 2018 to 2023 suggest an appreciation of labor value in green jobs, potentially reflecting heightened demand, technological advancements, and a shift towards more specialized skill sets. This study contributes to the academic discourse on green jobs, offering valuable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the labor market in fostering a sustainable and resilient economy. Future research should address methodological limitations, explore the impact of policy interventions, and examine the role of technological advancements in developing green jobs in Romania. Keywords: green jobs; sustainable development; GIS; agriculture; energy; waste management; labor market dynamics; Romania.

On the value of human labour and creativity in the video game industry

On the value of human labour and creativity in the video game industry

Praca w Hucie Katowice. Próba antropologii na rzecz zmiany

The purpose of this article is to answer questions related to the value of work in post-modern society. We answer questions about what good work is and what values are attributed to it, based on material elicited during anthropological fieldwork and interviews with employees of the Katowice Steelworks. We pose the above questions in the context of the labor crisis associated with the compromising of indicators that determine development, such as productivity and GDP. Having identified the value of labor, we present in the article the crises it is experiencing and possible directions for its transformation. Key-words: labor, Katowice Steelworks, anthropology of labor, transformation, working class

Labor Intensification and Value Production: A Rejoinder

Labor Intensification and Value Production: A Rejoinder

Analisis Pengaruh Nilai Upah Dan Tenaga Kerja Terhadap Pengangguran Terbuka Di Sumatera Barat Tahun 2014-2023

This research aims to analyze the influence of wages and labor values on the level of open unemployment in West Sumatra in the period 2014-2023. The method used is panel data regression analysis using secondary data from BPS and the West Sumatra Manpower Service. The research results show that wages have an insignificant positive influence and labor has an insignificant negative influence on the level of open unemployment in West Sumatra. In conclusion, the increase in wages and the number of workers in West Sumatra did not contribute to the level of open unemployment in the area during the 2014-2023 period. This research provides important information for the government and relevant stakeholders to design policies that can reduce the unemployment rate in West Sumatra.

Hubungan Antara Produk Domestik Regional Bruto dan Pengangguran di Provinsi Jawa Tengah Tahun 2011-2020

Labor is one of the indicators used to see the development and economic conditions of a region. Economic growth and the growth of the Labor Force are traditionally considered as one of the positive factors that spur economic growth. Central Java Province is one of the provinces in Indonesia which in 2020 through the 2020 Population Census has a total population of 36,516,035 people, occupying the third position among the provinces in Indonesia with the highest population. With the population increasing every year, the number of unemployed also increases because the labor force cannot be absorbed into the available jobs. The value of labor absorbed in an economic sector can describe the workforce that is included in the labor force that is able to be absorbed by economic sectors. The relationship between GRDP and unemployment is explained through Okun's Law. Okun's law states that for every 2 percent decrease in GRDP related to potential GRDP, the unemployment rate increases by about 1 percent so it can be concluded that the unemployment rate has a negative relationship with GRDP growth.The method used in this study is panel data regression method using the REM model. The data used in this study is data on the GDP and unemployment of Central Java Province in 2011-2020.The result of this research is that the GRDP variable has a positive relationship to the unemployment variable. This is not in line with Okun's Law which explains that the relationship between GRDP and unemployment has a negative relationship. So it can be concluded that Okun's Law cannot be applied in cases in Central Java Province. Keywords: GRDP, unemployment, Okun's Law, Random Effect Model (REM)

The Dispute and Countermeasure of Workers' Off-line Right in the Digital Age

In the age of digital advancement, society has shifted to a data-centric and interconnected paradigm. This transformation has not only altered lifestyles but also impacted labor dynamics significantly. As digital tools bring convenience, they also pose challenges such as blurred work-life boundaries and prolonged working hours.This article delves into the debate surrounding offline rights of workers in the digital era and proposes effective solutions. Employing a mixed-method approach, it elucidates the essence of these rights and argues for their legal recognition. The focus is on devising a comprehensive framework that balances legal clarity, market dynamics, and worker protection.By offering innovative policy recommendations, this research addresses the pressing need to safeguard workers' offline rights. It not only provides theoretical insights but also practical guidance to promote work-life balance and sustainable digital economy development. Upholding these rights signifies a commitment to modern labor values and social equity in today's digital age.