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About this quote

What does it mean?
Monotonous repetitive labor deserves high pay and short hours.
In plain terms
People doing boring repetitive work deserve more money and less time.
What can you take from it?
Compensate repetitive labor generously and reduce its hours.

Where it applies

  • workplace policy
  • union negotiation
  • automation debates

Putting it to work

  • demand fair wages for manual work
  • reduce shift length

Questions to consider

  • What work is undervalued?
  • How should automation affect pay?

Another view

Technology may eventually eliminate some roles.

More from John Kenneth Galbraith

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