Fordism

Question 1

Why did the Fordist system go into decline?

Answer 1

1) In the Middle East, where the bulk of oil was controlled, the OPEC cartel formed which limited supply of oil to global economy. Drastically rising prices and shocking economy/ industry.
2) The rise in global industry competitors.
3) Overproduction

Question 2

2 trends have characterised urban society in the ‘Post-Fordist’ era

Answer 2

Graham and Marvin, 2001

1. Regime of Flexible Accumulation
2. ‘Splintering Urbanism’

Question 3

‘Self-illusory hedonism’

Answer 3

(Campbell, 1987)

Identities and lifestyles were created through consumption
More and more counter cultures (a way of life and set of attitudes opposed to or at variance with the prevailing social norm)

Question 4

1. Regime of Flexible Accumulation
2. Splintering Urbanism: Geographies of Polarisation

Polarisation can refer to the proportions in the occupational structure.

Answer 4

Idea that sourced elsewhere where cheaper is cheaper

Expansion of both low-paying and high- paying service sector jobs, is leading towards the decline of middle-incomes.

Question 5

In some ways, Fordism was a victim of its own success…

Answer 5

Knox and Pinch (2010)

Saturated markets for mass consumption having pushed producers towards niche markets, packaging, novelty and design in the search for profit.

Question 6

Fordism way of thinking has been replaced by…

Answer 6

Knox and Pinch (2010)

a ‘new economy’
– a neo-Fordist (or post-Fordist) system underpinned by information technologies and networked around the globe
– neoliberalism – the view that the state should have a
minimal role.

Question 7

A crucial problem with the Fordist system was its rigidity
in the face of increasing market and technological
change. Flexibility is, therefore, the key factor underlying
the numerous changes that have modified the
Fordist system to the point where we now have to think
of a neo-Fordist system…

Methods of increasing flexibility?

Answer 7

Knox and Pinch (2010)

• Increased use of technology, such as computer aided
  design and manufacture (CAD/CAM).
• Flexible use of labour- workers are now much more likely to be multiskilled, rather than committed to just one task as under Fordism.
• The labour force increasingly exhibits numerical
  flexibility, the capacity to be hired and laid off when necessary, as is the case with part-time, temporary,
  agency or subcontract workers.

Question 8

In post-Fordist economies, firms compete less on the

basis of cost and increasingly on…

Answer 8

Knox and Pinch (2010)

Factors such as reliability, style, innovation, and branding…flexible accumulation.

Question 9

What is casualization?

Answer 9

Knox and Pinch (2010)

Increased use of ‘noncore’ workers such as part-timers, agency and temporary workers.

Question 10

One of the main consequences of neo-Fordist technologies and working practices is that…

Answer 10

Knox and Pinch (2010)

Far fewer people are needed to manufacture things.

Well-established ‘mature’ products- shifted to low-cost locations outside the Western countries.

Question 11

Reducing the costs of transactions and facilitating face-to-face interactions = clustering

For example…

Answer 11

Knox and Pinch (2010)

Silicon Valley and Orange County in California.

The M4 corridor in the UK.

Question 12

The Decline of Fordism (1970s…) from lecture

Answer 12

Knox and Pinch, 2010

• Flexible Specialization
• Globalisation
• Growing demand by women to enter workforce
• Modern Consumerism- people wanted more niche products to develop identities.
• Neoliberal De-Regulation (state retrenchment)

Question 13

People to reference…

Answer 13

Knox and Pinch, 2010 x 8
Campbell, 1987
Graham and Marvin, 2001