Work vs Labour in European Languages

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Questions and Answers

What is the main distinction between 'work' and 'labour' in the context of European languages?

  • The economic value of the activity
  • The historical significance of the activity
  • The physical characteristics of the activity (correct)
  • The social context of the activity

Which of the following is an example of subsistence work?

  • Cultivating a garden for personal food supply (correct)
  • Working at a factory for wages
  • Providing consulting services for businesses
  • Selling homemade jams at a local market

In which language is the term for 'work' translated to 'trud'?

  • Russian (correct)
  • Spanish
  • German
  • Italian

Which of the following questions is relevant to understanding the social context of work?

<p>Who decides what work needs to be done? (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'labour' in English is generally associated with which type of work?

<p>Toilsome work (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes collective work?

<p>It involves multiple individuals working towards a common goal. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of European languages, which of the following is a common translation for 'labour'?

<p>Arbeit (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of subsistence work?

<p>It is not intended for sale. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main types of compensation that employers provide to workers?

<p>Pensions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do employers sell to generate profit?

<p>Commodities (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the 'inputs' that employers buy?

<p>Workers' skills (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do workers typically use their earnings?

<p>To purchase commodities (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered part of the labour power that workers provide?

<p>Cash (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of employers in this economic relationship?

<p>To generate profit (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which item is typically NOT included in compensation for workers?

<p>Liquid assets (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What element is part of what employers sell in exchange for profit?

<p>Commodities (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of work is primarily aimed at maintaining social relationships within the community?

<p>Work for the community/collective (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of 'work for tribute'?

<p>Feudal farmers providing crops to a local lord (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes 'work for the market' from other work types?

<p>The product of labor is sold for revenue (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which pair correctly represents one of the binaries of work?

<p>Paid – Unpaid (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term would best describe work that is unsupported by social needs such as healthcare or retirement savings?

<p>Socially insecure (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a characteristic of 'dishonourable' work?

<p>Disrespectful and excluded from society (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes work choices that are not freely made but instead dictated by external circumstances?

<p>Unfree work (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean when work is described as 'unregulated'?

<p>Work is performed without structured oversight or rules (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main source of income for most workers?

<p>Selling their labor (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who owns and controls the means of production in a capitalist system?

<p>A small class of wealthy individuals (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do employers do with the profits generated from selling goods and services?

<p>Reinvest some to compete effectively (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the capitalist class?

<p>Wealthy individuals who control production (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which type of economic system is capitalism primarily used?

<p>Market economy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one key characteristic of capitalism's operation?

<p>Profit is generated by competing effectively (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following signifies a fundamental aspect of workers in a capitalist economy?

<p>Their labor is bought and sold (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is often reinvested by companies to improve competition in capitalism?

<p>Some of the profits generated (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What impact did the Numbered Treaties have on Indigenous Peoples' traditional lands?

<p>The Treaties led to the establishment of reserves and displacement of Indigenous Peoples. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of the 'Early capitalist development' period in Canada (1800s to early 1900s)?

<p>Dominance of subsistence agriculture. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the transfer of land from the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) to Canada in 1868 and 1870 impact Indigenous communities?

<p>It further eroded Indigenous land ownership and rights. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the Numbered Treaties?

<p>To extinguish Indigenous title to land and open it up for European settlement and resource extraction. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the connection between the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) and the Numbered Treaties?

<p>Large tracts of land previously granted to the HBC were eventually transferred to the Canadian government, which then signed the Numbered Treaties. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key distinguishing factor between commerce and capitalism?

<p>Commerce aims to acquire profits through buying and selling goods, while capitalism focuses on controlling production costs. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary factor that led to the shift from customary rents to market-based rents in 16th century England?

<p>Landlords needed to incentivize better farming practices, so they implemented a system of market-based rents to reward productivity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary impact of the ‘enclosures’ on the peasantry in England?

<p>It led to a significant reduction in the availability of common land for grazing and farming, severely impacting the livelihood of the peasantry. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to understand how waged work became central to our economy and society?

<p>It facilitates a deeper comprehension of the historical development of capitalism and its implications. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the ‘enclosures’ contribute to the rise of capitalism?

<p>It led to a decrease in agricultural production, forcing people to seek alternative forms of employment, ultimately increasing the pool of wage laborers. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of pre-capitalist production?

<p>Production was predominantly based on specialized factories employing a large number of workers. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which one was NOT a factor in the shift toward the importance of waged work?

<p>The increasing availability of land for agriculture, which led to more people seeking work in other sectors. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason why market activity does not necessarily equal capitalism?

<p>Market activity can exist in traditional economies, while capitalism is a modern economic system based on private ownership and competition. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between the law and early capitalism?

<p>The law was instrumental in facilitating the privatization of land and the enclosure movement, which benefited the rising capitalist class. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary motivation behind the enclosure movement in England?

<p>It was a way for landowners to maximize profits by creating a system of private land ownership and market-driven agriculture. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Work in European Languages

Various terms for 'work' across European languages, highlighting linguistic distinctions.

Greek Terms for Work

In Greek, 'pónos' refers to toilsome work and 'érgon' to creative work.

Key Distinction in Work

Main distinction in work terminology is based on physical characteristics, not social context.

Subsistence Work

Work that provides basic life necessities, not intended for sale.

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Types of Work

Work can be categorized into subsistence, collective, and market-based types.

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Social Context of Work

Includes who benefits and directs the work, as well as ownership of products.

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Waged Work

Work that is compensated financially, fitting within the broader context of types of work.

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Work for a Market

Work specifically aimed at producing goods/services for sale.

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Community Work

Work done for community members to help maintain social relationships.

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Work for Tribute

Work performed as payment or acknowledgment of authority, often involving labor or its output.

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Market Work

Work where the product is sold for revenue, either directly or through wage labor.

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Binaries of Work

Dual concepts categorizing work: free/unfree, paid/unpaid, independent/dependent, voluntary/forced, formal/informal.

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Honourable Work

Work that is respected, allowing the worker to be included in society.

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Dishonourable Work

Work that is disrespectful, often leading to social exclusion of the worker.

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Socially Secure Work

Work with social supports such as health care and retirement savings.

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Organized Work

Work where workers are associated with unions or guilds, promoting collective interests.

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Hudson’s Bay Company

A company established in 1670, given land by the King of England.

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Numbered Treaties

Treaties signed between 1871-1921 that transferred Indigenous lands to Canada.

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Indigenous Land Relinquishment

Indigenous Peoples lost land ownership due to treaties.

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Economic Transformation of Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous economies shifted from non-capitalist to agricultural settlements.

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Canadian Capitalism Development

Economic growth in Canada evolved from colonial trade to industries.

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Capitalism vs. Market Activity

Not all market activity is capitalism; capitalism involves profit motives and class structures.

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Commerce

Profit through buying/selling goods; success relies on market control.

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Pre-Capitalist Production

Production mainly for personal use or local community needs, not for market.

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Proto-Capitalism

Early capitalism seen in 16th century England; land owned by landlords.

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Market-Based Rents

Rents transformed from customs to market-driven, raising tenant costs.

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The Commons

Shared land by communities for collective use.

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Enclosures

Partitioning of common land for private use, often leading to conflict.

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Effect of the Enclosures

Forced poor farmers into wage labor due to loss of land access.

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Law and Early Capitalism

Legal structures supported capitalist dynamics and land enclosure practices.

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Capitalist Class

A small class of wealthy individuals who own and control the means of production.

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Workers

Individuals who sell their labor to earn income.

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Means of Production

Tools, factories, and machinery used to create goods and services.

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Employment Relationship

The connection between employers who pay and workers who operate means of production.

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Profit Reinvestment

Part of the profit made that is put back into the company to compete better.

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Capitalism History

The development and evolution of capitalism as an economic system.

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Class Dynamics

The relationship and power struggle between different social classes, such as the capitalist class and the working class.

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Market Capitalization

The total market value of a company's outstanding shares, reflecting its size and investment appeal.

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Wages

Payment received by workers for their labor.

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Compensation

Total payment for labor, including wages, benefits, and pensions.

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Labour Power

The capacity of workers to perform work involving time, effort, skill, and knowledge.

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Employers' Goals

To sell commodities for profit by utilizing inputs and labor.

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Workers' Goals

To sell their labor and purchase commodities necessary for living.

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Benefits

Additional perks provided to employees beyond wages, like health insurance.

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Commodities

Goods purchased by workers for daily living, such as food and housing.

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Pensions

Payments made to workers after retirement, based on their employment history.

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Study Notes

Overview of LABR 1260 Course

  • Course name: Working for a Living
  • Course code: LABR 1260
  • Semester: Winter 2025

Topics Covered

  • How our economic system functions
  • How we determine and control the rules that govern the workplace
  • How workers organize to influence their working conditions
  • How factors like race, class, and gender affect workers
  • The social/legal/political structures that affect our working lives
  • How to understand coming changes in our working lives

Course Schedule and Assignments

  • January 7, 2025: Getting started, Defining "Work," Group discussion, Capitalism 101.
  • Mini-Assignment #1: Due end of Monday (11:59 PM)
  • January 14, 2025: Workshop on APA
  • January 15, 2025: Paper #1 - Analysis Paper due
  • February 12, 2025: Paper #2 - Research Report due
  • February 25, 2025: Test #1 due
  • March 5, 2025: Paper #3 - Outline for Paper #4 due
  • March 26, 2025: Paper #4 - Position Paper due
  • April 8, 2025: Test #2 due

Professor Information

  • Professor: Christopher Rigaux
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Teaching experience: 8th year of teaching LS courses
  • Background: civil servant, union organizer, policy guy, UMSU, politics, etc.
  • Cohabitates with a cat named Scampers

Course Resources

  • UM Learn: used for class materials, assignments, readings, and updates.
  • Glossary: on UM Learn for any underlined terms.
  • Course Outline: on UM Learn
  • Course Slides: posted on UM Learn after each class

Course Objectives

  • Help students understand, learn to research, analyze, and write, and apply what they have learned
  • Understand working lives in the contemporary world and global transformation
  • Understand the central role of working for wages

Course Grading Breakdown

  • Mini-assignments: 10%
  • Test #1: 10%
  • Test #2: 20%
  • Analysis Paper: 10%
  • Research Report: 20%
  • Position Paper: 25%
  • Position Paper Outline: 5%

Important Dates

  • See the schedule of assignments for specific due dates.

Additional Information

  • The course reviewed the concept of work, different types of work, including subsistence, collective, tribute, and market work, and explored how these categories relate to economic concepts like capitalism.
  • It also examined economic relationships (workers and bosses), their interactions, and explored capitalist concepts.
  • Different models of capitalist economic development were presented, including the role of the British Empire in spreading capitalism and Canadian colonialism, the commons, and enclosures.
  • The course also looked at the concept of wage labor, examining different perspectives on workers and their relationship to bosses.
  • Learning materials include a brief history of Capitalism, with a focus on the early years.

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