HYV Technology The Polarisation and Immiserisation Controversy

Immiserisation Controversy G Parthasarathy The interaction between technology and institutions is complex and it is not easy to disentangle the social impact of technology without reference to the social institutions through which it generates its impact. Nor is it very rewarding to try to abstract the effects of technology per se This paper does not pretend to establish the causal relationship between technology per se and social change. Instead, it follows a 'before and after' and 'with and without' approach to illuminate the nature of change associated with technology Section I of the paper deals with technology and trends in polarisation and proletarianisation and Section IF with differences in trends in polarisation and proletarianisation between technologically leading and technologically lagging States. Section III discusses wages, unemployment and immiserisation in technologically leading and lagging States, Section IV examines inequality, non-agricultural employment and sustainobility of capitalist farming in technologically leading States and Section V deals with class formation in technologically leading and lagging States.