Introduction
The industrial revolution was introduced in the 18 th century and led to factories that we recognize today. Introduction of fossil fuel properly marked this process as manufacturers could develop more factories and increased output but also led an array of negative impacts. Factory growth has played a great role in the global scene with numerous documentations that these factories have brought. However, despite the negative arguments that industrialization brought in areas such as child labour, bad work environment, wages, economics and overtime, this essay seeks to counter these arguments and proof that, factories are not necessarily evil. In addition, the concept that factories have brought about positive effects on `industrialization,` `economics` and society as will be discussed.
Analysis
Harsh interpretations of industrial revolutions such as it led to inadequate wages, long working hours for the employees, child labor among others have negatively affected the public policy. Many academics perceive the period between 1760-1850 as the period of realization of secrets of economic growth, significant changes in technology and economic developments. However, this period led to the emergence of two groups; the classical liberalists who appreciated more the benefits of industrial revolutions and pessimists such as Hammonds and Engels who typically perceived industrial revolutions and capitalism to mean the same. The pessimist interpretations have led to the popular terms such as the theory of immiseration. Research by (Mantoux, 2015) explains that this theory has strong views that capitalism led to a widening gap between the rich and the poor. According to this theory, during industrialization, the richer became richer and the poor poorer. The new public policy of industrialization proofs the horrors of industrialization. Despite the many negative allegations, there is enough proof to show that during industrialization, standards of living improved, the real wages rose, mortality rates reduced and there was a quantitative increase in the standards of living.
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Early pessimists such as Engels continued to emphasize the negative impact of industrialization, who openly admitted that the working class was the ones who enjoyed better wages, better food, and even clothing. In addition, Engels and another pessimist claim that the evils that existed during the period of industrialization out the way the benefits of real wages. In their opinion, there were increased evils of corruption, poor working conditions, increased in pollution among other evils. According to (Hayek, 2013), most people during this time were better off than their forerunners but continue to suffer slight improvements as a catastrophic experience. However, it is clear that the many problems cited during the period of industrialization existed even before this period. The pre-industrial society was no different. There was cruel child labor, poor conditions; long working hours for the employees among other problems which the pessimist continued to associate with capitalism in the nineteenth but existed before the industrial revolution. On the contrary, factories are not necessarily evil because the period of industrialization saw a period of life expectancy. The reduced death rate fuelled increased in the population of people. The cities that the pessimist claim that the living conditions are said to have been worse, there was a significant increase in the mortality rate.
Discussions on real wages
Increase in real wages was noted during the period of the industrial revolution. Many of the economic historians believe that there was a slight increase in the standard of living. According to Hartwell (2017), evidence provided shows the rising of real wages. During this period in the 1830s, the wages of the average worker was better off. In addition, the research claimed that, even though the money wages remained stable, the prices for the manufactured and agricultural products increased and consumers received low priced goods and services. In addition, between the period of 1810 and 1850, the real wages for the workers in the blue collar job doubled. The real wages increased from an average of $11 per capita in 1728 to $ 28 per capita in1860. Increase in real wages consequently led to improved standards of living as people could not afford better housing and healthier lifestyle.
Increased employment and better working conditions means that people could thus afford a better diet and increase in consumption of such things as meat, eggs, beer, and sugar. The culture of importing such things as, coffee, cheese, rice, and cocoa also increased. Increased standards of living encouraged people to marry, and this led to increased populations and birth rates. Population of England and Wales rose by 1.25 percent (Hartwell, 2017). Throughout the history, the Malthusian trap had a concept that geometrically increasing populations would outdo the arithmetically increasing food supplies. However, during the period of industrial revolution, this Malthusian trap view was broken since the factories provided more food per person. These, therefore, support the viewpoint the factories are not necessarily evil as they come with endless benefits.
Unemployment and underemployment
The pessimist also holds the view that industrial revolution led to increased cases of unemployment and underemployment. It can`t do that there were cases of technological unemployment. According to Mantoux, (2015), unemployment cases were at eight percent per year, but this rate was much lower than those of the previous decade. In addition, between 1820 and 1850, there was evidence of stable money which indicated that there was little competition among the workers who were unemployed. On the other hand, in the case of underemployment, there was a massive shift from agriculture to a manufacturing sector. The agriculture led to seasonal unemployment but the shift to a manufacturing sector that was more stable and led to a decreased level of underemployment.
Environmental pollution
The 18 th century there were no laws regulating the factories. Factories would recklessly dispose of the waste materials from the environment. The government had no role in regulating the new industries since the system was a free-market. Environmental pollution thus is another problem that has raised concerns among people as the evil brought about by the factories (Mantoux, 2015). Those against industrialization argue that the real wages were a `bribe` given to the employees to endure the polluted environment and the unhealthy and the unsanitary working environment in the urban (Arnold & Bowie, 2007). This raises concerns about whether the factories were luring the workers to endure the horrible working environment.
I agree that during the industrial revolution, the working conditions in the cities were appalling but the fact the mortality rates improved indicates that the conditions were not bad enough to affect the health of the dwellers in the city. In addition, since there was increased migration from rural to urban areas, the workers voluntarily moved to the city to look for work in the factories. This leads to the strong argument that the factories were not necessarily evil since the `opportunity cost` for pollution and other negative factors in the urban was outweighed by the advantages that came with the real wages that they received.
Child labour
In the 18 th century, there were no laws to regulate the factories. This means that the companies would even hire an eight-year-old to work in coal mines or factories. However, since the existence of child labor cannot be denied but those against industrial revolution overstated the magnitude and effects of these actions on the health of the children. Most of these reports came from the government committee that investigated the factory systems. Commonly known pessimist such as Engels and Hammonds was a huge part of these committees. According to (Rule,2014), the results presented in those reports were politically motivated, and the fact that the doctor who testified against child labor in the factories had never even set foot in the factory and that he refused to testify under oath makes the results and documentation in this report malicious and defective.
Positive effects of factories on 'industrialization,' 'economics,' and 'society'
Industrial revolution presents a time for the rapid growth and change that took place in Europe and America. Factories led to innovations in the machinery, advances in technology that led to better techniques of producing goods and services. In addition, there was an advancement in communication, information systems, and architecture around the globe. The quality of life has been improved due to working in these industries, and the employment rate significantly increased. According to Delfino & Gillespie (2008), factories have led to industrialization, development of classes among people and the nations started to find national pride and identity.
The economy of countries has significantly increased since the factories could produce goods and services at a rapid rate. This has been accelerated by the increased innovation and technology leading to mass production of goods and services. Massive production of goods and improve the quality of living, providing convenience and full comfort to employees (Delfino & Gillespie, 2008). The society is in position to live comfortably, afford cheap housing, and the cheap fashionable clothes made from the factories. In addition, there have been inventions in the appliances making people`s life easier.Increased production has produced new jobs and increased number of cities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I strongly support that Factories are not that evil as they have brought about tremendous positive changes in the social and economic growth. The essay has put together sociological costs that were endured during the industrial revolution and most importantly countered those arguments with the sociological benefits that were derived. It is clear that industrialization provided a sense of hope to individuals and the overall economy. In addition, the period proved that problems could arise, but most importantly, solutions could be found.
References
Arnold, D. G., & Bowie, N. E. (2007). Respect for workers in global supply chains: Advancing the debate over sweatshops. Business Ethics Quarterly, 17(1), 135-145.
Delfino, S., & Gillespie, M. (2008). Technology, innovation, and Southern industrialization: From the antebellum era to the computer age. Columbia: University of Missouri Press.
Hartwell, R. M. (2017). The Industrial Revolution and Economic Growth. New York: Routledge.
Hayek, F. A. (2013). Capitalism and the Historians. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.
Mantoux, P. (2015). The industrial revolution in the eighteenth century: An outline of the beginnings of the modern ... factory system in England. Place of publication not identified: Routledge.
Rule, J. G. (2014). Labouring Classes in Early Industrial England, 1750-1850, The. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.
