Capitalist Exploitation Over a Century

One of the questions we were asked in the class presentation on Thursday was can we have capitalism without exploitation. Much like the different period of time with urbanization, the idea of exploitation within society has changed over time periods as well. The cornerstone theory being Marxist in nature, most studying sociology have been given a background into the exploitation seen by Marx. Yet there are other theories from different time frames such as liberal theories of exploitation, and neoclassical views of exploitation as well.
 Marx initially wrote about the theory of exploitation within capitalism as distinguished between proletariat or wage workers and the bourgeoisie or capitalist class. Exploitation was committed by the bourgeoisie when they did not pay the wage workers what their labor was actually worth. Furthermore, exploitation was extended when one was not receiving according to their needs. While Marx viewed capitalism in a negative view given theories of exploitation, alienation, and class conflict, exploitation is something seen within the capitalist culture. The exploiters in a Marxist view are those who command goods with production assets and the aid of laborers. The exploited are those whom cannot enjoy the product of their labor.
 Marx has been critiqued by numerous sources over the years. Including ones that claim Marx assumes the capitalist owner or manager does not contribute to the process. This critique believed that Marx does not take into account the risk of capital by the owner. The manager also needs to be paid their due for the extra work that they are doing. Democratic socialists have also conflicted with Marx’s idea that socialism could only come from this exploitation and the resulting class conflict.  Others have even argued that capitalism provides opportunities for laborers to make money. While this is a brief over view, I am more interested in how the theory of exploitation had changed throughout the years
Liberal theories have an underlying exploitation that is often over viewed. Having exchanges that are unilateral and bilateral in nature that need to contain a value of greater than or equal to zero allows for equal and unequal transfers. This trade has a beneficiary that has made more than something may be worth or what they traded. This means that the person with the higher value item may not trade equal quantities of the item if the others is valued less. Therefore both exploiter and exploited become ex-changers, yet one may benefit this exchange. This is due to the motifs behind the trade. One may need something for survival and make a worse trade than what would be normal.  Although they assume some Laissez-fair to be necessary, liberal theories in general conclude that so long as there is nonintervention in commerce, there is no exploitation. This is negated by the reasoning behind trades.
Some neoclassical theories show exploitation in the way they see unequal productivity from workers and wages. Neoclassic theories also have a tendency to include need for social programs. These social welfare show inequality within the system. Yet theories also suggest that rewards should be according to their productivity margin. Exploitation can and will exist within imperfect competition systems. Yet to give neoclassical view credit, the view of exploitation comes from the monopoly of the labor market. In terms of productivity wages should have little to no exploitation of the workers.
 Modern times however are concern with the exploitation of third world countries. Places that have become territories and occupied third world countries have often been turn in a churning mill for profitable substances that benefit the more powerful nation. Child labor and sweat shops have become terms associated with exploitation and involved the idea to include entire nations.  Standard conditions of operating environments can be manipulated to be cheaper within a capitalist conglomerate. While the company is paying third world wages, it turns around and sells to the first world at first world prices.

 All in all, the theory of exploitation has evolved from being associated with solely capitalism, to underlying its structures, to now applying to full nations. It has become something associated with adult and child workers, and spun to include working conditions, human rights, and competing organizations. Like the example of urbanization evolving throughout time periods, the sociological theories that address problems within the city must evolve too.