David J. Karjanen
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780816694624
- eISBN:
- 9781452955377
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Minnesota Press
- DOI:
- 10.5749/minnesota/9780816694624.003.0006
- Subject:
- Sociology, Urban and Rural Studies
The fifth chapter looks at informal, or “off-the-books,” employment and how integral it is in low-income communities, particularly for those who cannot afford vital services or do not earn enough ...
More
The fifth chapter looks at informal, or “off-the-books,” employment and how integral it is in low-income communities, particularly for those who cannot afford vital services or do not earn enough through their primary occupation. Traditionally, this type of “street hustling” has been viewed as on the peripheries of urban economic activity. The chapter includes an analysis of informal work alongside other forms of low-wage labor precisely because when looked at it analytically, this type of wage labor is not marginal, but is in fact integral to the economy of the urban and working poor.Less
The fifth chapter looks at informal, or “off-the-books,” employment and how integral it is in low-income communities, particularly for those who cannot afford vital services or do not earn enough through their primary occupation. Traditionally, this type of “street hustling” has been viewed as on the peripheries of urban economic activity. The chapter includes an analysis of informal work alongside other forms of low-wage labor precisely because when looked at it analytically, this type of wage labor is not marginal, but is in fact integral to the economy of the urban and working poor.
David J. Karjanen
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780816694624
- eISBN:
- 9781452955377
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Minnesota Press
- DOI:
- 10.5749/minnesota/9780816694624.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Urban and Rural Studies
The Servant Class City demonstrates that for San Diego’s inner city revitalization, focusing on new development, visitor services, and high-rises overlooks the dramatic growth in low-wage service ...
More
The Servant Class City demonstrates that for San Diego’s inner city revitalization, focusing on new development, visitor services, and high-rises overlooks the dramatic growth in low-wage service work, and persistent challenges facing poor, and working poor inner city residents. The book documents how over in a 30 year period, San Diego’s urban revitalization targeted specific industries, creating thousands of low-wage jobs and transforming the inner city, while at the same time broader economic trends further eroded the economic standing of the urban poor and working poor. As a result, inner city revitalization was planned and dependent on the continued expansion of poor and working poor households, while a range of other economic challenges, from payday lending and check cashing to unaffordable housing and limited social safety nets, have made the economic standing of the urban poor and working poor even more precarious, despite dramatic urban revitalization. David J. Karjanen argues that this process, as well as the broader efforts of urban policy, fails to adequately address the highly complex economic problems of the urban and working poor, and only a dramatic re-thinking of these issues will generate substantial solutions.Less
The Servant Class City demonstrates that for San Diego’s inner city revitalization, focusing on new development, visitor services, and high-rises overlooks the dramatic growth in low-wage service work, and persistent challenges facing poor, and working poor inner city residents. The book documents how over in a 30 year period, San Diego’s urban revitalization targeted specific industries, creating thousands of low-wage jobs and transforming the inner city, while at the same time broader economic trends further eroded the economic standing of the urban poor and working poor. As a result, inner city revitalization was planned and dependent on the continued expansion of poor and working poor households, while a range of other economic challenges, from payday lending and check cashing to unaffordable housing and limited social safety nets, have made the economic standing of the urban poor and working poor even more precarious, despite dramatic urban revitalization. David J. Karjanen argues that this process, as well as the broader efforts of urban policy, fails to adequately address the highly complex economic problems of the urban and working poor, and only a dramatic re-thinking of these issues will generate substantial solutions.
David J. Karjanen
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780816694624
- eISBN:
- 9781452955377
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Minnesota Press
- DOI:
- 10.5749/minnesota/9780816694624.003.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Urban and Rural Studies
The author begins The Servant Class City with an introduction to one of their friends, the entrepreneur Raymond, and the odd jobs he does to earn a living. To some observers, Raymond’s situation and ...
More
The author begins The Servant Class City with an introduction to one of their friends, the entrepreneur Raymond, and the odd jobs he does to earn a living. To some observers, Raymond’s situation and outlook is frustrating; he is obviously a hard worker, so why doesn’t he just learn a trade or start his own business? The barriers to either, however, are multiple. It is not from the lack of trying; but rather, the structures of opportunity have shifted, making it difficult to attain any level of economic security or move up economically through greater income. The book specifically examines the unique economic structures of the city of San Diego, California.Less
The author begins The Servant Class City with an introduction to one of their friends, the entrepreneur Raymond, and the odd jobs he does to earn a living. To some observers, Raymond’s situation and outlook is frustrating; he is obviously a hard worker, so why doesn’t he just learn a trade or start his own business? The barriers to either, however, are multiple. It is not from the lack of trying; but rather, the structures of opportunity have shifted, making it difficult to attain any level of economic security or move up economically through greater income. The book specifically examines the unique economic structures of the city of San Diego, California.
David J. Karjanen
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780816694624
- eISBN:
- 9781452955377
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Minnesota Press
- DOI:
- 10.5749/minnesota/9780816694624.003.0007
- Subject:
- Sociology, Urban and Rural Studies
The sixth chapter examines the ways that people provide for themselves within low-income communities in the absence of market-based or public sector solutions for everything from childcare to ...
More
The sixth chapter examines the ways that people provide for themselves within low-income communities in the absence of market-based or public sector solutions for everything from childcare to banking. Recalling previous chapters, the hospitality and retail industries are, on average, inadequate in terms of job quality. A lack of skills upgrading or experience, stagnant or falling wages, and limited career ladders make these industries less than appealing to many inner-city residents. As some move to the further margins of the economy, working informally to supplement their low wages or to drop out of the labor force entirely, they run into additional problems, like a lack of benefits and labor market attachment. This often makes it harder to return to a formal employment.Less
The sixth chapter examines the ways that people provide for themselves within low-income communities in the absence of market-based or public sector solutions for everything from childcare to banking. Recalling previous chapters, the hospitality and retail industries are, on average, inadequate in terms of job quality. A lack of skills upgrading or experience, stagnant or falling wages, and limited career ladders make these industries less than appealing to many inner-city residents. As some move to the further margins of the economy, working informally to supplement their low wages or to drop out of the labor force entirely, they run into additional problems, like a lack of benefits and labor market attachment. This often makes it harder to return to a formal employment.
Alice Bloch and Sonia McKay
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9781447319368
- eISBN:
- 9781447319399
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781447319368.003.0004
- Subject:
- Earth Sciences and Geography, Urban Geography
This chapter focuses on the working lives of undocumented migrants. In particular it explores the constant juxtaposition of working lives with irregularity in five main areas: job search and routes ...
More
This chapter focuses on the working lives of undocumented migrants. In particular it explores the constant juxtaposition of working lives with irregularity in five main areas: job search and routes into employment; jobs and sectors of employment; terms and conditions of work and the precarious nature of employment; experiences of work within and outside of the ethnic enclave; and workplace relations. For the most part work is insecure, with poor terms and conditions, including long and unsocial hours without overtime payments. Work was mostly for employers or managers from the same ethnic and/or linguistic group in some of the most informal parts of the economy. However, being undocumented does not mean a total absence of agency and the chapter shows how undocumented migrants are able to make incremental improvements to their working lives by adopting particular tactics in terms of skills acquisition, job mobility and even geographical mobility.Less
This chapter focuses on the working lives of undocumented migrants. In particular it explores the constant juxtaposition of working lives with irregularity in five main areas: job search and routes into employment; jobs and sectors of employment; terms and conditions of work and the precarious nature of employment; experiences of work within and outside of the ethnic enclave; and workplace relations. For the most part work is insecure, with poor terms and conditions, including long and unsocial hours without overtime payments. Work was mostly for employers or managers from the same ethnic and/or linguistic group in some of the most informal parts of the economy. However, being undocumented does not mean a total absence of agency and the chapter shows how undocumented migrants are able to make incremental improvements to their working lives by adopting particular tactics in terms of skills acquisition, job mobility and even geographical mobility.
David J. Karjanen
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780816694624
- eISBN:
- 9781452955377
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Minnesota Press
- DOI:
- 10.5749/minnesota/9780816694624.003.0010
- Subject:
- Sociology, Urban and Rural Studies
The concluding chapter of The Servant Class City provides a review of the key issues and makes policy suggestions. The lack of economic mobility in the United States is a growing problem across ...
More
The concluding chapter of The Servant Class City provides a review of the key issues and makes policy suggestions. The lack of economic mobility in the United States is a growing problem across socioeconomic and racial/ethnic demographics. The central research question regarding economic mobility is why so many people in low-income families have a difficult time moving out of the bottom rungs. The chapter also criticizes the current status of urban policy.Less
The concluding chapter of The Servant Class City provides a review of the key issues and makes policy suggestions. The lack of economic mobility in the United States is a growing problem across socioeconomic and racial/ethnic demographics. The central research question regarding economic mobility is why so many people in low-income families have a difficult time moving out of the bottom rungs. The chapter also criticizes the current status of urban policy.
