The knowledge economy and labour power in late capitalism

Peter K. Kennedy

doi:10.1177/0896920510376998

The knowledge economy and labour power in late capitalism

Peter K. Kennedy

Sociology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

This paper offers a Marxist critique of the prevailing view that the knowledge economy marks a decisive shift in capitalism away from the exploitation of labour and argues instead that the knowledge economy is part of the broader transition of value relations under late capitalism, which manifests most clearly in the increasing difficulties late capitalism experiences in containing the power of social labour. Drawing out this argument the paper considers the recent mass expansion of UK post-compulsory education. Contrary to the view that post compulsory education is a functional response to the needs of a knowledge economy, it is argued that the expansion is a function of the need to control through containment the power of social labour.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	821-837
Number of pages	17
Journal	Critical Sociology
Volume	36
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0896920510376998
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2010

Fingerprint

late capitalism

knowledge economy

compulsory education

labor

exploitation

capitalist society

Values

experience

Keywords

capitalism in transition
critical political economy
knowledge economy
immaterial labour
value relations

Cite this

Kennedy, P. K. (2010). The knowledge economy and labour power in late capitalism. Critical Sociology, 36(6), 821-837. https://doi.org/10.1177/0896920510376998

Kennedy, Peter K. / The knowledge economy and labour power in late capitalism. In: Critical Sociology. 2010 ; Vol. 36, No. 6. pp. 821-837.

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Kennedy, PK 2010, 'The knowledge economy and labour power in late capitalism', Critical Sociology, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 821-837. https://doi.org/10.1177/0896920510376998

The knowledge economy and labour power in late capitalism. / Kennedy, Peter K.

In: Critical Sociology, Vol. 36, No. 6, 01.10.2010, p. 821-837.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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