Y1SI - Economic and Political Geogaphy - Labour

What a re the two theories as to why we work?

o   Subsistence -> The economic necessity to work (bills to pay)

o   Consumption -> We work to consume things

State two ways labour is a commodity in the capitalism system

o   Uses value (skill, energy and time required to work)

o   Exchanges value (wages for time)

State the 3 ways labour differs from other commodities

o   Temporary – you only work for certain hours

o   Has agency – one has the capacity to think for themselves

o   Enters a social relationship with employers

State two ways as to how labour is the most place-based labour

§  People are attached to places

o   Work places are local (as there are limits to travelling to work geographically, which is why we commute to work)

State the 4 key ways the global workforce has changed since 70s

-more workers

-More service-based work

-Technological development

-Feminisation of workforce

4 ways work in the uk has changed since 1970

o   More competitive international division of labour

o   Emphasis of work flexibility – good if it is a choice

o   Casualisation in terms of employment

o   Feminisation of workforce

State the three ways labour has agency?

o   Trade unions – collective bargaining

o   Human key labour factor

o   Labour mobility

An introduction to economic geography: globalization, uneven development and place→ Labour vs work vs employment

• Labour = human capacity to work.

• Work = activities performed (paid or unpaid).

• Employment = formal wage-based relationship where labour is sold to employers.

An introduction to economic geography: globalization, uneven development and place→How are workers not passive

• Trade unions & collective bargaining: weakened but still active; new forms of organisation.

• Household strategies: combining paid/unpaid work, commuting, migration.

• Worker voice: informal networks, activism, digital platforms.

What does the concept of social reproduction mean

The idea that inequalities can be passed down from generations to generations; relates to the maintenance of the household

how do geographers see labour as a commodity?

By seeing it through its use value (work required ) and exchange value (wage)

How would geographers describe the term “skill” ?

: Complexity of a task; demand of ability – Use value of labour

Name two ways skill is quantified

o   Quantified through wage

o   Quantified by governments (by defining skills to help define 2highly skilled” for visas

what does “skill in the setting & person mean”

·       Skill in the setting: skills values differently in different sets of historical moments

·       Skills in the person: relates to your being, characteristics and personalities

 

Name the 3 factors that affect the likelihood of securing a job

·       Location

·       Bodily attributes

o   E,g being “polished” (mannerisms, accent, dress)

·       Sex

Yeung, (2019). Economic geography : A contemporary introduction - What examples of gender and race can we see in the economy?

Gendered Examples:

• Wage disparities: In Canada (2015), women earned only 75% of the average male wage. Even among senior managers, women earned significantly less than men.

• Occupational segregation: Men dominate manufacturing (e.g., auto assembly), while women are concentrated in retail (e.g., clothing stores) and care work.

Race/Ethnicity Examples:

• Income disparities: Racial minority women in Canada earned less than both white women and racial minority men.

• Tech sector exclusion: At Google (2017), Black employees held only 1% of tech jobs, Latinos 3%, despite higher population representation.

eung, (2019). Economic geography : A contemporary introduction - How do gender, race, and space shape people’s experiences in the labour market?

Gender and Space:

• Commuting constraints: Women often have shorter commutes due to caregiving responsibilities, limiting job options.

• Race and Space:

  • Residential segregation: Ethnic minorities often live far from employment centers, exacerbating commuting challenges.

  • Transport poverty: In places like Tirana, Albania, poor public transport disproportionately affects women’s job access.

eung, (2019). Economic geography : A contemporary introduction - What are different ways identities shape experiences of workplaces?

Gendered Workplaces:

• Exclusionary cultures: Tech firms and financial institutions often have masculine cultures that marginalize women.

• Social networks: Informal male-dominated networks exclude women from knowledge exchange and career advancement.