The UK's 'Economic Inactivity' Crisis: Myth vs. Reality
The much-discussed 'economic inactivity' crisis in the UK isn't a true unemployment problem, argues this piece. Decades-long stability in the number of economically inactive people points to a shift in narrative, not a sudden crisis. The government frames non-work as a moral failing, attempting to coerce people into employment, echoing historical forced labor. The article critiques this view of work as the sole source of value, highlighting the neglect of unpaid labor (care, childcare). Technological advancements haven't reduced working hours, but instead intensified work's intrusion. The real crisis, the author suggests, is capitalism's declining ability to extract surplus value, not individual 'non-work'. The solution lies in redistributing the fruits of technological progress and shifting values to appreciate care, art, and rest.
