WHAT IS REPRODUCTION FOR ECONOMISTS?
Most of us associate reproduction with romantic notions like love, commitment, patriotism, fulfillment, or sex. However, economists have a different view of reproduction. Remember, economics is the dismal science – it is known to make exciting ideas dull and dry. For economists, reproduction is the economic reproduction of the human race; it is the creation of new and productive workers and bosses.
Economists view reproduction more than as a biological process. Aside from the 9 month gestation period of most humans, economic reproduction also encompasses the sustenance, care, and training of people so that they can be productive individuals. To become productive, people must pass through the following developmental tasks: physical, cognitive or mental, and psycho-social. Reproduction does not stop with the raising of babies – it continues through adolescence (your mother calling on your cellphone to tell you are past your curfew) and adulthood (your wife preparing your daily baon.)
WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF REPRODUCTION?
Most of the work that goes into reproduction is hidden at home. No money changes hands, no profit is made, and since it has no monetary value, it does not appear in GDP statistics. Most economists tend to ignore reproduction as a private, non-economic matter.
But remember what I told you about economics? Since you were born (actually, as far as back as the intention to bear you), your life has been circumscribed by work. Many of you come from families that support themselves through wage labor, thus, you are born into worker households. And worker households, by default, produce workers. Think of your family as a worker-making factory. You are the product, the would-be worker of the next generation.
You are not only a product, but an investment, and self-respecting households do their best to improve their investments. You are sent to school, given nutritious foods, allowed liberties for your social development, etc. Your parents work for you so that you’ll become better workers for yourself, or as an insurance against old age. Almost all the work that your parents do goes into you. In the past, when economic reality was harsher, families produced more workers or children of little quality (poor education, poor nutrition), but with the rising standards of living, families are now producing less workers of higher quality.
Most of the consumption that occurs in the economy also occurs at home. Indeed, many families sink into debt just to finance consumption (especially last Christmas season.) Little is saved except for higher-income families.
Lastly, aside from you, the most important investment of your family is the place where work occurs – the home. You are all fortunate to live within well-furnished homes that will soon become your property.
WHO DOES MOST OF THE WORK IN THE HOUSEHOLD?
Most of the work done in the household is done by women. Since they are not sold in the market, the work women do are considered as inferior to the paid work done by most men. Women do more unpaid work than men. Their job has less status or recognition. How we value work is sexist, and is influenced by a complex mixture of tradition, religion, media, economic pressures and even violence. Men who work outside the home are exempted from household chores, but women who work outside must “double shift.” Women work harder. Thus, the unequal relations between men and women are perpetuated.
As our standards of living increase, the contribution of women to the household lessens. Household tools make household chores easier. Manufactured goods replace the unpaid labor women do. Higher-income families hire people (gardeners, drivers, yayas, etc.) to do the work for them, with pay. The government also shoulders some the burden with day-care centers and public schools. However, though paid, work traditionally done by wives is valued less and is usually done by women.
Aside from pure discrimination our society imposes on women, women’s career prospects are also limited by domestic responsibilities and by pregnancy. The jobs where women are restricted (caring professions and service industries) are also low-paying. Women are reduced into a dependency with men, especially when their husbands overtake them – poverty rates among single mothers and pensioners are higher than the rest of the population. In our country, to be a single mother carries with it the economic pressure to provide for your children and the social stigma of being promiscuous. In fairness, our country is one of the most gender-friendly countries in Asia; Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Arab and Indian women are worse off (actually to be born a girl in Bangladesh is the worst.)
So, women, take care of yourself and never engage in a relationship where you become dependent or take-advantaged. Men, take care of your wives and your mothers – give them freedom and recognize how much work they do for you. The age of cloistered women are now over – now is the age for genuine equality and recognition of importance.
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF POPULATION GROWTH ON THE ECONOMY?
Women give birth so it is no doubt that the real power over bearing children resides in the woman, not the man. However, many women are powerless against the sexual predations of their husbands. Uncontrolled sex often brings about pregnancy, and pregnancy has much to do with economics, particularly the labor force.
A high rate of population growth has the advantage of providing more workers for the country. However, the disadvantages often outweigh the advantages. The disadvantages of too high population growth are the following:
- Rapid population growth leads to a high rate of unemployment.
- Too many people depress resources and puts additional strain on the environment.
- Jobless or unemployed people pose economic, social and political problems to their country.
Unemployment usually causes the vicious cycle of idleness and promiscuity, which leads to more children, and so on. Bearing too many children does not only pose great troubles to our country but also to the children themselves: their physical, cognitive and psycho-social development are often stunted by inadequate resources.
HOW CAN WOMEN IMPROVE THE ECONOMY?
Family planning means the limitation or control of the number of children a family will have. There are various methods of family planning from the one-child policy of China to the tax incentives that limit family size in many countries. Family planning methods are not the same as contraceptives or anti-STDs, but many of the methods of family planning (e.g. condoms) belong to one or all. Family planning is also concerned with spacing births. It has been proven that in countries where women are treated more or less equally as men, and where contraceptives are widely available and accessible, there were less unwanted pregnancies, less unemployment, and greater standards of living for all.
The following are some family planning methods:
- Abstinence
- Rhythm method
- Coitus interruptus
- Condom use
- Diaphragm
- Intrauterine devices (IUD)
- Birth control pills
- Sterilization (ligation and vasectomy)
- Counseling
- Late marriage
- Abortion
Our country has a pro-life Constitution and it bans abortion as a means of family planning. The Roman Catholic Church also has a pro-life policy and further bans all forms of artificial birth control other than those which are preventive in nature.
CONCLUSION
This module discussed about household work. Reproduction is more than mere sex – it includes the continuing nurturing and improvement of human potential. Most of the work that goes into reproduction is done by women. Women are taken advantage by complex social forces and must seek genuine equality to lead better economic lives. Reproduction leads to new workers but too much of it has negative social consequences. Women are integral to the economic health of a country; wise childbearing and childrearing is fundamental to a productive labor force.
RIGHT-PRODUCTION
Reproduce
With the right person,
At the right time,
At the right place,
With the right means,
For the right reason.
WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT (due Friday, 15 January 2010)
Write a life plan, that is, your career and family plans until you reach 65 years old (retirement.) Be detailed with your plans and timetable. Include in your plans the course you intend to pursue in college, the age you want to bear children, the description of the person you want to have a family with, the number of children you want to have (you can include their names), the job you want to have, etc.
Make your work brief and concise. Use only one sheet of yellow pad (back-to-back if need arises.)
And, please, write legibly. You are allowed to computerize your work if your handwriting is too painful to read.
*****
Source:
Stanford, Jim. (2008). Economics for Everyone: A Short Guide to the Economics of Capitalism. London: Pluto Press.
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