National Competitiveness and the Subordination of Labour: An Australian Policy Study

Abstract

This article explores the notion of competitiveness and the ‘competitive agenda’ in national policy in Australia and looks at the implications for national labour. It utilises the Marxist concept of surplus value to assess the way the costs of ‘becoming competitive’ have been borne and the way the benefits of ‘being competitive’ accrue. The article shows that the conventional analysis of costs and benefits of competitiveness has been static, failing to recognise the class dynamic at the centre of capitalist competition. Accordingly, there should be no surprise that labour has been the bearer of costs, and competitiveness has been a process of intensifying the subordination of labour. The article identifies the policy initiatives within Australia that have enforced this subordination.