Labor & consumption have in the past mainly been considered separately. These phenomena seem to have become increasingly interdependent as a result of changes in the org of production consumption. The theory of Hannah Arendt (See A0385) who distinguishes between labor- the activity corresponding to the biological process of the human body & work - the activity providing the 'artificial' world of things is cited. 'Work' processes increasingly adopt the characteristics of 'labor' processes. A labor market was enacted in 19th cent England with hunger as the driving force. Increasing division of labor & the consequent mechanization lead to an increasing demand for unqualified human labor power. Specialization, which is guided by the finished product & which leads to the development of occup's, is replaced by division of labor, directed at simplification of operations. In mass production occup's are replaced by quasioccup's, bearing the characteristics of `labor': repetition & endlessness. Seniority procedures stimulate a demand for unqualified labor. The endlessness of labor processes is guaranteed by the fact that durable goods obtain the character of consumption goods, the rate of use being greatly accelerated. Processes like fashion & design improvement, which are part of the production process, stimulate the wear & tear of technically durable goods. Design development means built-in wastage; the artistic element of production is a laxative in the process of metabolism. Hunger is no longer the driving force to labor, a new hunger applies: the standard of living. Market org changed correspondingly. Retail trade lost its information function, which was taken over by the producer - the demiurge of metabolism. Advertisements are the main source of information, providing goods with individuality & binding consumers to a particular type of product. AA.
