Abstract:
A key prediction of classical theories of the division of labor is that, over time, specialized occupations are responsible for an ever-narrower range of tasks. In contrast to the predictions of classical theories, I show that the macro-level forces of scientific development and rationalization in fact work to complicate tasks and responsibilities. I use historical, archival, and statistical data to cast light on this general pattern, and consider some of the possible consequences for workers, firms, and societies.
A Brief Bio:
Michelle Jackson is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Stanford University. Her research focuses on how socioeconomic background shapes life chances, with a particular emphasis on the persistence of inequality in late industrial societies. Jackson's work includes both theoretical and empirical studies, analyzing educational systems and socioeconomic inequality across a variety of countries.