The Debate over "Hausindustrie" after the Industrial Revolution in Germany

Mitsuishi Ikuo

doi:10.20633/tochiseido.25.1_17

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

ドイツ第二帝政期における家内工業論 : その背景と問題点
ドイツダイニテイセイキニオケルカナイコウギョウロンソノハイケイ

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Description

The purpose of this paper is to make clear the significance of the Hausindustrie-problem in econimic development in Germany by surveying the formation and the change of Hausindustrie in the imperial period, by analyzing the debate on abuses which resulted from this change. In Imperial Germany, when the Industrial Revolution had finished, there were many small industries still in existence and by no means could they be disregarded in the share of production. But these small industries showed a rapid regression. Hausindustrie in rural districts (domestic industry) consisted of textile industry, which was carried on mainly as a by-production of agriculture. On the other hand, Hausindustrie in urban districts (outwork) experienced a growth in the clothing industry, which was based mostly on the women's labor force. Therefore, "Hausinductrie" had transformed from the former to the latter. Because of various abuses which Hausindustrie caused by this change, it was desirable to take political actions to protect Hausindustrie-laborers. This means that the Hausindustrie-problem dissolved into a labor problem and reflects a process in which Hausindustrie-laborers were integrated as de facto laborers in the relationship between capital and labor. But at the same time the possibility of business development in Hausindustrie was mentioned and from that we can guess the diversity in the development of Hausindustrie. It goes without saying that the analysis of these small industries, besides the analysis of monopolies, is indispensable for comprehending the structure of reproduction of German capitalism. Unless both sides are taken into consideration, the general law of capitalist accumlation cannot acquire a historical actuality, which this paper will hope to achieve by presenting a guiding principle to study the process of production and circulation of Hausindustrie.

Journal

The Journal of Agrarian History

The Journal of Agrarian History 25 (1), 17-31, 1982

The Agrarian History Society (Renamed as The Political Economy and Economic History Society)