I don't mind the interventions, and the goal of the economy is to serve the people, not the other way round, but narrative that government "gave the workers more rights" is largely false.
We became richer, thanks to the industrial revolution, not government coordination, and could afford to abolish slavery and work less. Same way we stopped wars of conquest conveniently when they stopped being profitable compared to large scale manufacturing and trade.
Government is at the mercy of these large trends just like the people.
> but narrative that government "gave the workers more rights" is largely false.
That's not my narrative. The government was forced to give more rights after a lot of bloodshed in multiple countries, it was ultimately a governmental intervention in the labour market which turned those protections into law.
The industrial revolution made societies richer, the workers through social movements and the power of government made the industrial revolution livable. If left by its own devices the industrial revolution barons would still be requiring people to work 12-14h days, including children over 12 years old.
Government is the collective voice of the people, we should let a decently democratic government have power over the markets, that's my narrative.
"Research has shown that the average age at which children started work in early 19th-century Britain was 10 years old, but that this varied widely between regions. In industrial areas, children started work on average at eight and a half years old."
> Reformers took up the issue of the working hours from the end of the 18th century onwards. Their campaigns resulted in the passage of legislation in 1802 and 1819 regulating the working hours of children in workhouses and textile factories to 12 hours a day.
> In 1833, the Factory Act banned children under 9 from working in the textile industry, and the working hours of 10-13 year olds was limited to 48 hours a week, while 14-18 year olds were limited to 69 hours a week, and 12 hours a day. Government factory inspectors were appointed to enforce the law.
We became richer, thanks to the industrial revolution, not government coordination, and could afford to abolish slavery and work less. Same way we stopped wars of conquest conveniently when they stopped being profitable compared to large scale manufacturing and trade.
Government is at the mercy of these large trends just like the people.