Analysis of "The End of Work" by Jeremy Rifkin discusses the decline of the global labor force and the dawn of the post market era.
by
dolliphizzle (student)
Agbolade
The end of work written by Jeremy Rifkin discusses the decline of the global labor force and the dawn of the post market era. The book is divided into five sections; ‘The Two Faces of Technology “,”The Third Industrial Revolution”: The Decline of The Global Force”, section 4:“The Price of Progress” “The Dawn Of The Post- Market Era” he organized the text in sections so that the readers can understand how the end of work started declining in stages has we read through each section. With that, the analysis of the critique is focused on section 1, which focuses on the current technology revolution viewed from the standpoint of its effect on employment and global economy.
Rifkin described that the world is entering a phase in history, which is characterized by the rate of unemployment in the world today. He said
“ Unemployment is now at the highest level since the great depression of the 1930s” (Rifkin 2005: xv). He furthered mentioned how the growing numbers of underemployed or unemployed and new extrants into the workforce find themselves victims of technology development and new technologies are replacing labor force. Rifkin wrote, “Today, all three of the traditional sectors of the economy: agriculture, manufacturing, and service are experiencing technological displacement, forcing millions onto the unemployment rolls”(Rifkin 2005: xvii).
I think that the book The End of Work is very informative, and it helps provide an understanding to the unemployment rate in the world today. Rifkin makes the most important point on how technology today is taking over the work force, there by causing the mass of unemployed worker displaced from the economy. This argument raise the question why is technology such a powerful force? I think that the reason why technology is such a powerful force to our economy is because a lot of technical advancement has improved and have made it a modern society for example it would be ludicrous to resist the introduction of telephone, it offers a lot of advantages and not a lot disadvantages. I agree to his argument, however, Rifkin neglect to understand that, for example if a business owner does not take the route of technology development then he or she will ultimately loose out to their competitors that do employ the machine, there by causing the company to go bankrupt and employee and owners lose their jobs. Which raises the question what should the owner of the business does at that point? This is force/ power of technology that drives competition and speed up and puts employers in a difficult position in sometimes; it also has effect of taking our employers and small business. The implication of these issues could cause the increase in the debt of small business owners because they would want to borrow money from the bank to stay in business thereby increasing the national debt.
