LSE
For Marx, meaningful change would only come about when the workers
seized control of the means of production. In his day that meant land,
factory machinery and transport networks. Were he around now, I think he
would probably cast a tired eye over the left’s moral crusading on
executive remuneration and welfare payments and look instead with
enthusiasm to what is stirring in the economy. For it is there that
something extraordinary is just starting to happen: the means of
production are being seized by the workers – some of them at least.
It is already widely noted how rapid technological change is transferring the power to design and manufacture from
large companies into the hands of individuals and small networks. Less
noticed is the way that a similar transfer of power is happening for
other business practices associated with the service sector as much as
manufacturing.
