Composition of The Relative Surplus Population
Marx argues the relative surplus population always has three forms: the floating, the latent and the stagnant.
- The floating part refers to the temporarily unemployed ("conjunctural unemployment").
- The latent part consists of that segment of the population not yet fully integrated into capitalist production - for example, part of the rural population. It forms a pool or reservoir of potential workers for industries.
- The stagnant part consists of marginalised people with "extremely irregular employment". Its lowest stratum (excepting criminals, vagabonds and prostitutes) "dwells in the sphere of pauperism", including those still able to work, orphans and pauper children, and the "demoralised and ragged" or "unable to work".
Marx then analyses the reserve army of labour in detail, using data on Britain where he lived.
Read more about this topic: Reserve Army Of Labour
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