Sociology100Notes Capitalism BriefHistoryofCapitalism: Capitalismisaneconomicsysteminwhichpropertyandgoodsareprimarilyownedprivately investmentsaredeterminedbyprivatedecisionsandprices,production,andthedistributionof goodsaredeterminedprimarilybycompetitioninafreemarket. StartedtodevelopalongwiththeagriculturalandindustrialrevolutionsinEurope. BeforeCapitalism,dominantsystemwasFeudalism. Feudalismcharacterizedbythepresenceoflords,vassals,serfsandfiefs. Fief:Landgrantedinexchangeformilitaryprotection. SerfsformedlowestclassinFeudalsociety. Serfshadtogiveaportionoftheirproductiontothelordsinreturnforprotection. Thefeudalsystem,whichprecededcapitalisminEurope,begantochangeasearlyasthefifteenth centurywiththeenclosuremovement,whichforcedpeopleoffwhathadbeenpubliclandand sentthemlookingforworkincities.

ncities. Evolutionofcapitalismalsoinfluencedbytheincreaseintechnology. AgriculturalRevolutionistheintroductionofnewfarmingtechnologiesthatincreasedfood outputinfarmproduction, Corporationisalegalentityuntoitselfthathasalegalpersonhooddistinctfromthatofits members:theownersandshareholders. Theories AdamSmith: Competition,drivenbypeoplesinherentselfinterestanddrivetotrade,helpsmaintaina cohesivesociety. Specializationisakeytoincreasedproductivityandinnovation. Useofmoney,asopposedtobarter,makestradingmoreefficient. GeorgSimmel Theevolutionofmonetarypaymentsystemsfrompieceworkpaymenttowagelaborto salariedworkwasapositivechangethathelpedcreateseparatepublicandprivatespheresand gaveworkersmorefreedomtoenjoytheprivate,orleisure,sphere.

KarlMarx: Arguedthatcapitalismcreatedalienationinworkersalienationfromtheproductsthey produced,alienationfromtheproductionprocess,alienationfromoneanother,andalienation

fromthemselvesandtheircreativetendencies. Marxpredictedboththatcapitalismwouldultimatelydestroyitselfandthattheworkingclass wouldriseagainstthecapitalistclass,leadingtoaperiodfirstofsocialismandthen communism. MaxWeber: Linkedtheriseofcapitalismtotechnologyandideas,specificallyideasandbeliefsconnectedto theProtestantReformation. Sawcapitalisminanegativelight,notbecausehethoughtitcausedalienationasMarxdid,but becausehethoughtpeoplebecamesoobsessedwithworkingandmakingmoneythatthey couldneverenjoy. RecentChangesinCapitalism: Fordmotorcompany:Familywage.Awagepaidtoamaleworkersufficienttosupporta dependentwifeandchildren. $5aday.Unmarriedmenandmarriedmenwithnodependentsineligible.Hadtoenrollin Fordssociologydepartmentthatensuredthattheeligiblefamilieslivedintheright atmosphere. Femaletomaleearningratioin2008:77%.Males:$44,662.Females:34,435. Thefactthatwomenhaveoftenbeenpaidlessthanmenhasservedtodeterthemfrom seeingworkasalifelongchoice.Thewagestructurewasonefactorthatmadewomensee marriageastheonlywaytohavefinancialsecurity. Comparedtopeopleinmanyotherindustrializedcountriesandsomedevelopingcountries, Americansworklongerhoursandhavefewervacationbenefitsandlessgenerous familyleavepolicies.2007avgUSemployeeworked45.9hoursaweek.Only25paid vacationdaysandholidays. WhilemoreAmericancompaniesareofferingfamilyfriendlypoliciessuchasflextime (adjustableschedules)andflexspace(workfromhome),employeesarenotnecessarily takingadvantageofthemingreatnumbers. Studiesshowthatworkingmothersarelessdepressedandhavehigherselfesteemthan motherswhodonotwork,yettheyarealsomorelikelytofeeltiredandanxiousandtohave higherdivorcerates. Whileglobalizationisnotanewphenomenon,thecurrentperiodofglobalizationhasa numberofnewelements,andithasclearlydemarcatedthedivisionbetweentheworlds richandpoor.Thequestioniswhetherglobalizationcantrulybeaforcetoclosethatgapor ifitservesonlytowidenit. Champagneglassdistributionofinequality.Divisionofworldincomebetweenworld population.Richest20%:82.7%ofworldincome.Poorest60%:4.6%ofworldincome.

THEREIGNOFTHECORPORATION Acorporationisajuristicpersonanentitythathasallthelegalrights,duties,and responsibilitiesofapersonandcorporationsstructureeconomiclifearoundtheworld.

THECORPORATEPSYCHOPATH Theoverridingobjectiveofcorporationsistomakeprofitsfortheirshareholders,andin ordertodothistheymustfindwaystobeatthecompetition.Sometimestheseeffortslead corporationstocrossthelineoflegalityoratleasttocomeclosetocrossingit. Thereisconstanttensionforcorporationsintermsofpressurestobeprofitableand pressurestobeenvironmentallyresponsible,whichcanaddtooverallcosts.. Employeesalsoexertpressureoncorporations:askforbetterwages,benefits,andworking conditions,allofwhichaddtoacorporationscostsandmakeitlessprofitable.Not providingthesemayleadtooflossofworkers,strikes,orlowerproductivity.Whenworkers formallycometogetherinordertomakesuchdemandsasagroup,theyhaveformeda union.DeclineinunionizationratesintheUnitedStatessincethe1970s.Acompanys assaultonitsworkersunionwiththehopeofbreakingitupiscalledunionbusting. TherehasbeenalotofconcernintheUnitedStatesaboutjoblossduetooffshoring(when acompanymovesoperationsoverseastocutcosts)andduetothepresenceofillegal immigrants,whoareoftenpaidlessthanaU.S.citizenwouldbe.Somepeoplearguethat illegalimmigrantshaveanimportantroleintheeconomy,nottakingjobsfromAmericans butratherdoingjobsthatAmericanswontdo.Othersarguethatillegalimmigrantsare ultimatelyadrainonsocialservicesandshouldbedeportedwithnooptionforgettinglegal workingpapersorcitizenship. Monopoly:whenonlyonesellerofagoodorserviceisinthemarket(zerocompetition). Oligopoly:Onlyahandfuloffirmsexistinaparticularmarket.