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LABOR AS A NON-ECONOMIC ACTION

Varvara Rogozhnikova

Abstract

In modern society, labor becomes a complex and diverse action. The forms of labor are changing, and it`s boundaries are eroding. In these conditions it is important to rethink the economic understanding of labor. The main goal of this article is to formulate special aspects of labor as of a non-economic action. To achieve the goal the author analyzed such notions as “economic action”, “non-economic action”, and “labor” as they exist in scientific literature. It was also required to find out the distinction between economic and non-economic action, and to describe labor as a noneconomic action. The central statement of the article is that the labor as a non-economic action is characterized by three distinctive features: 1) variety of motives; 2) variety of results; 3) acting agent should be treated as a person. Thus, a modern neoclassical view on labor activity does not allow to understand labor as a complex and various action. In neoclassical economics economic motive is still a dominating one, the results are reduced to profit, and an acting agent is an individuum. Therefore, we need an interdisciplinary theory of labor in economics to consider such aspects of labor as creativity, individuality, and diversity. Philosophy of economics tells us there is a possibility to change our view on labor through a new human model.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2018/1.4/S04.062

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