Reflection
Robert Reich is not only a well-known economist and author of a number of books but a successful politician as well. In the movie Inequality for All, the expert explains in simple terms why income inequality is an inherent part of any society and tries to predict what consequences the society will face in case the gap between poor and rich will be even more evident than it is now.
The majority of people tend to think that inequality has already grown. Reich provides a number of facts that prove this statement comparing the economic situation in the United States of 1928 and 2010. According to the movie, the process of globalization contributed to slow recovery from crises and a huge gap between poor and rich. America is the most progressive country across the globe, however, is also the state that takes the first position related to inequality. The gap between the income of an ordinary worker and the income of top executives was not very big. However, nowadays top executives have already doubled their wealth whereas ordinary workers make even less.
We cannot go back to the old Fordism regime. There were not so many economic factors that exist now. Modern factors include globalization and an expanded market. The labor market is unlimited now. The population of the United States has already increased by almost four times since the beginning of the twentieth century. However, the number of workplaces is almost the same; it means that the employer has a lot of choices, the demand for the worker’s decreases as well as the price for labor. There are too many people who want to work, and thus, the business owners can lower the salaries. This is only an internal problem. The external issue is even more complicated. Asian World experiences the same problem; however, it is more urgent there as the population increases with impressive speed. It is not possible to return to the same approaches used during Fordism as globalization dictates new rules, old models are ineffective. Innovations related to technical progress need to be improved to solve the situation.
Alternatives
According to the opinion described by my colleague, it is impossible to return to the models and approaches used earlier. Fordism is that stage of development that the society has already overcome. The methods that were popular earlier cannot be adjusted to the modern environment and thus, should be innovated and transformed to suit modern needs. The solution to the problem is centered on governmental help. Those corporations that would give up their desire to make a profit and prosper and would increase salaries for the employees who need help from the government. The state should grant the economic prosperity of such corporations and has to cover the gap in revenues. However, the question arises where the state would get money.
The answer is the taxation of rich people. There are a number of issues that are associated with this problem as the question is rather controversial. I do not profess to be an expert regarding the subject, but I am strongly convinced that new models should be developed as globalization demands advance in all spheres of human activity. Old methods are unsuitable for the modern needs of the market. Nowadays corporations have no other choice than to submit to the rules and provide the customers with lower prices and cut the wages of the employees. It is a vicious circle, and only innovations and new models can break it. However, new methods should be implemented as fast as possible as a gap between wealthy and poor becomes more and more evident.