Sunday, January 27, 2008

Exploitation and freedom

Chris Dillow no Stumbling and Mumbling:

Russell Roberts argues that Wal-Mart can’t exploit workers because so many people apply for jobs there. Is this valid, or is it the sort of error that Norm deplores?

To see the problem, imagine a sort of Gulag Archipelago, in which some prison labour camps are more oppressive than others. Prisoners are free to apply to enter particular camps, but not free to leave the archipelago. There will then be thousands of applicants to enter the less onerous camp, and successful applicants will be happy to get there.

But it doesn’t follow that these are not exploited. And their freedom is horribly limited. It‘s a choice amongst oppressive exploiters;
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