Productivism
Encyclopedia
Productivism is the belief that measurable economic productivity and growth
is the purpose of human organization (e.g., work), and that "more production is necessarily good".
and socialism
, challenge the notions of conventional political economy
, and argue for an economic policy more compatible with humanity, these views are often dismissed as 'utopian' by economists and political scientists, who hold that there is no conflict between the role of the worker and of the citizen, father and mother, etc. That is, that conventional economics
and particularly macroeconomics
already accounts for the relationship between productivity and the freedom to enjoy that productivity.
defines Productivism as:
Further stating:
Although 'productivism' can be considered pejorative, as it is unacceptable to many individuals and ideologies it describes, these same individuals and ideologies often use phrases like "productivity", "growth", "economic sense" and "common sense" without argument, presupposing the primacy of industry(Giddens, 1994). Many people, including Alan Greenspan
and George W. Bush
, have been criticized as productivists.
According to those who use the term 'productivism', the difference between themselves and the promoters of conventional neoclassical economics
is that a productivist does not believe in the idea of "uneconomic growth
", i.e. the productivist believes all growth is good, while the critic of productivism believes it can be more like a disease, measurably growing but interfering with life processes, and that it is up to the electorate, worker and purchaser to put values on their free time and decide whether to use their time for production or their money for consumption.
A key academic critic of productivism is Amartya Sen
, winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Economics. His theory of "development as freedom" is one of several human development theories
, that states that the growth of individual capital
, that is, "talent", "creativity" and "personal ingenuity", is more significant than the growth of many other measurable quantities, e.g. production of products for commodity markets.
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
is the purpose of human organization (e.g., work), and that "more production is necessarily good".
Arguments for productivism
Although productivism is often meant pejoratively as a general problem in politics and economics, it remains that most countries and economies are productivist in nature. While critics of productivism and its political/economic variants, notably capitalismCapitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, challenge the notions of conventional political economy
Political economy
Political economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth, including through the budget process. Political economy originated in moral philosophy...
, and argue for an economic policy more compatible with humanity, these views are often dismissed as 'utopian' by economists and political scientists, who hold that there is no conflict between the role of the worker and of the citizen, father and mother, etc. That is, that conventional economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and particularly macroeconomics
Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics is a branch of economics dealing with the performance, structure, behavior, and decision-making of the whole economy. This includes a national, regional, or global economy...
already accounts for the relationship between productivity and the freedom to enjoy that productivity.
Criticism of productivism
Anthony GiddensAnthony Giddens
Anthony Giddens, Baron Giddens is a British sociologist who is known for his theory of structuration and his holistic view of modern societies. He is considered to be one of the most prominent modern contributors in the field of sociology, the author of at least 34 books, published in at least 29...
defines Productivism as:
- an ethos in which “work”, as paid employment, has been separated out in a clear-cut way from other domains of life.
Further stating:
- [work] defines whether or not individuals feel worthwhile or socially valued.
Although 'productivism' can be considered pejorative, as it is unacceptable to many individuals and ideologies it describes, these same individuals and ideologies often use phrases like "productivity", "growth", "economic sense" and "common sense" without argument, presupposing the primacy of industry(Giddens, 1994). Many people, including Alan Greenspan
Alan Greenspan
Alan Greenspan is an American economist who served as Chairman of the Federal Reserve of the United States from 1987 to 2006. He currently works as a private advisor and provides consulting for firms through his company, Greenspan Associates LLC...
and George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, have been criticized as productivists.
According to those who use the term 'productivism', the difference between themselves and the promoters of conventional neoclassical economics
Neoclassical economics
Neoclassical economics is a term variously used for approaches to economics focusing on the determination of prices, outputs, and income distributions in markets through supply and demand, often mediated through a hypothesized maximization of utility by income-constrained individuals and of profits...
is that a productivist does not believe in the idea of "uneconomic growth
Uneconomic growth
Uneconomic growth, in human development theory, welfare economics , and some forms of ecological economics, is economic growth that reflects or creates a decline in the quality of life. The concept is attributed to the economist Herman Daly, though other theorists can also be credited for the...
", i.e. the productivist believes all growth is good, while the critic of productivism believes it can be more like a disease, measurably growing but interfering with life processes, and that it is up to the electorate, worker and purchaser to put values on their free time and decide whether to use their time for production or their money for consumption.
A key academic critic of productivism is Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen, CH is an Indian economist who was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory, and for his interest in the problems of society's poorest members...
, winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Economics. His theory of "development as freedom" is one of several human development theories
Human development theory
Human development theory is a theory that merges older ideas from ecological economics, sustainable development, welfare economics, and feminist economics. It seeks to avoid the overt normative politics of most so-called "green economics" by justifying its theses strictly in ecology, economics and...
, that states that the growth of individual capital
Individual capital
Individual capital, also known as human capital, comprises inalienable or personal traits of persons, tied to their bodies and available only through their own free will, such as skill, creativity, enterprise, courage, capacity for moral example, non-communicable wisdom, invention or empathy,...
, that is, "talent", "creativity" and "personal ingenuity", is more significant than the growth of many other measurable quantities, e.g. production of products for commodity markets.
See also
- Agricultural productivityAgricultural productivityAgricultural productivity is measured as the ratio of agricultural outputs to agricultural inputs. While individual products are usually measured by weight, their varying densities make measuring overall agricultural output difficult...
- AnarchismAnarchismAnarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
- ConsumerismConsumerismConsumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
- Green parties
- Green anarchismGreen anarchismGreen anarchism, or ecoanarchism, is a school of thought within anarchism which puts a particular emphasis on environmental issues. An important early influence was the thought of the American anarchist Henry David Thoreau and his book Walden...
- Human development theoryHuman development theoryHuman development theory is a theory that merges older ideas from ecological economics, sustainable development, welfare economics, and feminist economics. It seeks to avoid the overt normative politics of most so-called "green economics" by justifying its theses strictly in ecology, economics and...
- Individual capitalIndividual capitalIndividual capital, also known as human capital, comprises inalienable or personal traits of persons, tied to their bodies and available only through their own free will, such as skill, creativity, enterprise, courage, capacity for moral example, non-communicable wisdom, invention or empathy,...