Social inequality worsens with financialization from "summary" of Labor in the Age of Finance by Sanford M. Jacoby
Financialization has brought about significant changes in the labor market, leading to the exacerbation of social inequality. The shift towards a more financially-driven economy has resulted in a redistribution of wealth that disproportionately benefits the already affluent while leaving the working class behind. As financial institutions and markets become increasingly dominant, the gap between the rich and the poor widens, leading to a more unequal society. One of the key ways in which financialization worsens social inequality is through the transformation of labor markets. The emphasis on short-term profits and shareholder value has led to a focus on cost-cutting measures and maximizing efficiency, often at the expense of workers. This has resulted in job insecurity, stagnant wages, and an erosion of workers' rights, particularly for those in low-skilled or precarious employment. Moreover, the rise of financialization has fueled the growth of the gig economy, where workers are often classified as independent contractors rather than employees. This shift has allowed companies to bypass traditional labor protections and benefits, further exacerbating inequality by creating a two-tier system of workers: those with stable, well-paying jobs and those with insecure, low-paying jobs. Additionally, financialization has enabled the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small elite, further widening the gap between the top earners and the rest of society. Financial institutions and corporate executives benefit from this system through exorbitant salaries, bonuses, and stock options, while ordinary workers struggle to make ends meet. This concentration of wealth at the top contributes to a cycle of inequality that is difficult to break.- The rise of financialization has had profound implications for social inequality, exacerbating existing disparities in wealth, income, and power. The shift towards a more financially-driven economy has transformed labor markets, creating a more unequal society where the benefits of economic growth are disproportionately distributed. Unless structural changes are made to address these inequalities, the trend of worsening social inequality with financialization is likely to continue.
