Thursday 22 November 2012

Productivity Growth Through Transformation


As I mentioned in my minor blog (link to minor blog), the topic of the economy was the most compelling of all in the readings - more specifically and productivity of the economy. I feel it is only appropriate to draw upon the recent United States presidential election that just place as my fellow classmates; afcallaghan and PEARLSGLITTERANDPOLISH  did so, although in a different manner.

As many of us know, the economy was one of the top issues during the most recent US presidential election.  It was interesting to hear the kind of numbers being called out during talk about the deficits. During the second presidential debate moderator Candy Crowley brought up the question about shipping jobs overseas, specifically to China. Barrack Obama’s response about continuing to develop the educational system to educate the current and upcoming generation was an intelligent response. To me he understands what adaptation means in relation to ongoing capacity of technological advancements.

Manuel Castels (2005) writes about the three processes that researchers have associated with productivity growth in this period. One was the diffusion of new microelectronic/digital technologies. The second was the transformation of labor, with the growth of highly educated individuals. The third was the diffusion of new forms of organization around networking.

The second about the transformation of the labor force to me is the most essential of all. The generic labor force is becoming obsolete in our economy (Castels, p. 10), as China has found a way to compete by substantially increasing production levels at a lower price of labor. Electronic factory jobs are a great example of the before mentioned. It is rare to see mass production of electronics factories in the US and Canada. Although the down fall of these jobs being moved overseas have been the allowance of poor worker conditions, something that would in a sense would never go unnoticed In the US or Canada.  

In order to compete and be on top I agree that the education system is the key to doing so.Ruty224 , posted a video in her minor blog that mentions that we live in an exponential era, resulting in the top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010, not existing in 2004. The education system is the backbone of a country's educated population. If a country is able to figure out a way to keep its population educated in line with current network society that we live in, then factory jobs being shipped overseas can become a thing of the past as new industries creating new jobs will continue to flourish.  

Thursday 8 November 2012

Information Age


I am yet to read a definition of the information age or society that I find compelling. From what I gathered from the various definitions, the information age is the era when overwhelming amounts of  information became vastly available to the general public.

The idea of ICT's improving productivity was the most interesting of all concepts found in the readings. I will touch open it more in my major blog, but for now I will introduce it.

For one to try and make the argument that ICT's have not increased productivity does not ring a bell with me. I can not seem to find reasonable prove for that. I will have to do more research on the arguments that scholars have brought forth.

The three process of productivity growth mentioned in the information society readings  ( innovation, transformation of labor, diffusion) will also be elaborated on in my major blog, as it is an argument that I myself have put forth before.