Work makes the World go Around

For Adam Smith, «The annual work of a nation is the primitive fund that provides annual consumption for all things necessary and convenient to life, and these things are always the immediate product of this work, or purchased from other nations with this product». More than two centuries later, work seems more than ever central to relations between individuals as well as countries. With the acceleration of international trade, work performed here has repercussions on work elsewhere. Products manufactured here are sold outside of borders and the customer of today is the potential seller of tomorrow. However, this increase in world trade does not have the same impact everywhere. If, for some, the opening up of new markets is an opportunity, for others, it results in relocations, a gradual deindustrialisation and an increase in inequalities between both individuals and states. The issue is also that of the remuneration of labour in extremely different national contexts. What should we do today so that the greatest number of people have equal access to work and a fairly rewarded job and one which actually contributes to the wealth of the world and reduces inequality?