Factory Discipline

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic History
Year: 1994
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 128-163

Score contribution per author:

2.018 = (α=2.02 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Before the Industrial Revolution in Britain most workers controlled their pace, timing, and conduct at work. Factory discipline radically changed this. Employers now dictated how, when, and in what manner work was done. Why did discipline triumph? Was it required by the need to tightly coordinate workers with new technologies? Or was it successful because it coerced more effort from workers than they would freely give? The empirical evidence shows that discipline succeeded mainly by increasing work effort. Workers effectively hired capitalists to make them work harder. They lacked the self-control to achieve higher earnings on their own.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:cup:jechis:v:54:y:1994:i:01:p:128-163_01
Journal Field
Economic History
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25