Capitalism is a force that has lifted billions out of poverty, where even poor remote villagers enjoy luxuries that would have been unimaginable to medieval kings. When someone takes a job, even the worst job, it's because both parties expect mutual gain. And yet companies routinely get accused of exploiting their workers for offering low pay and bad conditions, even if the pay and conditions are far better than the other available jobs. This sometimes results in protectionist laws that prevent those businesses from existing in the first place, making everyone worse off.

Given this, is there any meaningful concept that could be called “exploitation?”

I think there is.

In fact, I claim, it routinely happens that someone will voluntarily and rationally submit to a circumstance that should very rightfully be called “exploitation.”

An Actually-Exploitative Corporation

Consider this dialogue, taken from here:

Steve: Acme exploits its workers by paying [...]

---

Outline:

(00:54) An Actually-Exploitative Corporation

(03:52) More forms of Exploitation

---

First published:

Source:

Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.