Labor/Economics

This article examines how debt, financial dependence, military alliances, and technological control continue to shape power relations across Asia long after formal colonial rule. Drawing on discussions at the Hands Off Asia conference in Colombo, it explores perspectives from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Thailand on economic sovereignty, democratic struggles, and the enduring impact of international financial institutions and geopolitical competition. The authors argue that political independence alone cannot secure genuine sovereignty without control over economic policy, resources, technology, and democratic participation. The article situates these debates within broader movements seeking alternative paths for Asia’s future.

India’s expanding digital health infrastructure and insurance-based care have improved administrative reach, but they have also intensified pressures on healthcare workers. This article argues that an excessive focus on metrics, surveillance and standardized targets is eroding clinical autonomy, meaningful patient care and workforce wellbeing. Drawing on the experiences of doctors, community health officers and ASHA workers, the authors contend that sustainable healthcare requires balancing efficiency with empathy, fair labour practices and professional judgment. They call for reforms that value frontline workers, reduce administrative burdens and place human dignity at the centre of India’s public health system.

Fertility rates are falling across much of the world, with most countries now below or approaching replacement levels. This article examines the demographic shift through the lens of capitalism, gender relations, and changing social priorities. Drawing on research by Claudia Goldin, Julia M. Puaschunder, and others, it argues that declining fertility cannot be explained by economic costs or women’s empowerment alone. It explores how workplace demands, unequal domestic responsibilities, and market-driven lifestyles shape reproductive choices, and considers the implications for ageing societies, labour markets, and countries such as India that face demographic transition before sustained economic prosperity.

Parallels can be drawn between MAGA in the United States and retrograde elements domestically, as well as other Western imperialist states.

With Pete Hegseth’s claim that the war against Iran has now cost the US $37.5 billion, I wanted to tie this spending to the war against American workers, looking at the period from 1947 to 2005 in great detail, and general detail thereafter. The elites, under both the Democrats and Republicans, are killing us: from 2001-2005, under W, over 80% of all American families lost income! Well worth your consideration!

Digital platforms have transformed culture into a system shaped by algorithms, advertising, and data. This article revisits the idea of the cultural industry to examine how social media influences identity, creativity, and consumption among Gen Z. It explores the rise of micro-dramas, influencer culture, algorithm-driven trends, and the growing shift toward private online spaces as young people seek more authentic forms of connection. It argues that understanding how digital platforms operate is essential for preserving individual autonomy. Critical media literacy, the article suggests, is an important step toward reclaiming agency in an increasingly commercialized digitalenvironment.

‛The Lithium Frontier: Empire, Oligarchs, and the Struggle for the Salt Flats of the Andes’; ‛Lithium Mining: A New Mineral Rush Spearheaded by the United States, Europe, and Other Major Powers

South Africa’s migration debate often focuses on border control, documentation and xenophobia, while paying less attention to the conditions that drive migration across the African continent. This article argues that economic stagnation, political instability and limited opportunities in neighbouring countries are central to understanding migration patterns. It examines South Africa’s own social and economic challenges, the political use of anti-immigration rhetoric, and the regional dynamics that shape migration flows. The article calls for a broader conversation that addresses both the realities facing migrants and the structural conditions that compel many people to leave their homes.

Reports on support for Palestine and its Workers at the 2026 Labor Notes conference, June 12-14, 2026