Title: The working class: an entire class of people left behind

Authors: Jeffrey Overall

Addresses: Faculty of Business and Information Technology, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7K4, Canada

Abstract: In Das Kapital, Marx (1867) suggested that capitalism will lead to the perpetual exploitation of the working class. To address the issues raised by Marx, various measures, such as: trade unions, increasing the minimum wage, human rights legislation, labour law, and the welfare state have been established. However, even with these measures in place, the working class continue to experience exploitation and, as a result, an entire class of people are being left behind. In this research, using the Frankfurt School of critical theory as a theoretical foundation, I explore the issues facing the working class. The main contribution to knowledge involves not only building on the work of the critical theorists, but also establishing parallels between the totalitarian regimes described in their 20th century writing and 21st century society. Recommendations are offered to reconcile the issues raised and future directions are suggested.

Keywords: Adam Smith; capitalism; critical theory; Marx; rational egoism; working class.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2021.112808

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2021 Vol.27 No.2, pp.206 - 219

Accepted: 10 Dec 2018
Published online: 04 Feb 2021 *

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