CHAPTER VIII.[ToC]

MACHINERY AND DEMAND FOR LABOUR.

§ 1. The Influence of Machinery upon the number of Employed, dependent on "elasticity of demand."

§ 2. Measurement of direct effects on Employment in Staple Manufactures.

§ 3. Effects of Machinery in other Employments—The Evidence of French Statistics.

§ 4. Influence of Introduction of Machinery upon Regularity of Employment.

§ 5. Effects of "Unorganised" Machine-industry upon Regularity.

§ 6. Different Ways in which modern Industry causes Unemployment.

§ 7. Summary of General Conclusions.

§ 1. In discussing the direct influences of machinery upon the economic position of the labourer we must distinguish its effects upon (1) the number of workers employed; (2) the regularity of employment; (3) the skill, duration, intensity, and other qualities of labour; (4) the remuneration of labour. Though these influences are closely related in complex interaction, it is convenient to give a separate consideration to each.