According to each of the four schools of thought, what was the cause of the "labor problem"? Given the causes, what solution does each school propose?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The mainstream economics school of thought sees imperfections in the competitive labor market as the cause of the labor problem. As a result, the solution is to ensure competition in the market by encouraging many employers and many workers, each with freedom to make their own choices about who to hire and where to work. The human resource management school sees poor management as the cause of the labor problem and, as such, the solution is better management practices that encourage employee equity and voice. The industrial relations school sees an imbalance in bargaining power as the cause of the labor problem. The solution is to encourage independent unionization and collective bargaining that will equalize the imbalance in power. Finally, the critical industrial relations school sees the labor problem as a manifestation of class conflict and the ability of the ownership class to manipulate the rules and laws of society to their best advantage. The solution, according to this school of thought, can only be found by assuming worker control over modes of production and decision-making in society.