Author Information
Hoang-Nam Tran, Tokushima University, JapanThi-Nhien Nguyen, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Vietnam
Abstract
The rise of AI, globalization, demographic shifts, and economic restructuring has fueled concerns about the emergence of a “useless class”—individuals displaced from the workforce with little chance of reintegration. This literature review examines how labor displacement manifests differently across economies, shaped by automation, offshoring, financialization, and shifting labor demands. In OECD countries, job polarization due to AI and deindustrialization threatens middle-class employment, increasing inequality and political instability. In non-OECD countries, automation erodes informal and low-skill jobs, while globalization exacerbates economic precarity. Social consequences range from identity crises to mass migration. While OECD nations experiment with UBI and reskilling programs, developing countries face structural constraints. Without proactive policies, economic polarization will deepen, benefiting capital owners while displacing workers. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated global strategies that balance technological progress with equitable labor transitions.
Paper Information
Conference: ACSS2025Stream: Education and Social Welfare
This paper is part of the ACSS2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
Full Paper
View / Download the full paper in a new tab/window
To cite this article:
Tran H., & Nguyen T. (2025) The “Useless Class” Across Economic Contexts: AI, Globalization, and Socioeconomic Shifts ISSN: 2186-2303 – The Asian Conference on the Social Sciences 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 445-456) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-2303.2025.37
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-2303.2025.37
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress