Modern man is a consumer of not only goods but also services. The development of the non-productive sphere is the most important indicator in the economy of any state.
What is a non-productive sphere?
This concept refers to all economic sectors that satisfy the intangible needs of people in society. Such needs include the organization, redistribution and use of material values, spiritual blessings, the development of various aspects of the individual, as well as healthcare. Non-productive sphere meets the social needs of society and each individual in it.
This includes the concept of "spiritual production." This term was introduced by Karl Marx, who understood by it the production of skills, ideas, artistic images and values. Also in the non-manufacturing sector include industries that are engaged in the production of services.
The difference between services and goods
A person is an object of labor for employees of an enterprise that provides services. A product is a certain item or thing endowed with certain properties. It was obtained as a result of labor committed in the past. The service has only useful properties that are not attached to a material carrier, and is the result of work in the present. The service sells the labor force of the employee of the company who provides it; it cannot change its owner, unlike the product. Services have no cost. However, they have a price, which is determined by the cost of the employee’s ability to work and the material resources expended.
The non-production sphere is based on the material base. Without material production, it could not exist. After all, services are ultimately exchanged for goods. Workers involved in material production also provide maintenance for those who work in the service sector.
Non-manufacturing sectors
Sociologists distinguish 15 industries:
- Housing and communal services;
- sales (commerce);
- public catering;
- domestic services: home care, repair and manufacturing on orders of various groups of goods, personal hygiene;
- school and preschool education;
- the medicine;
- social services;
- recreational services;
- maintenance of cultural institutions;
- Information Support;
- finance and insurance;
- legal support of citizens;
- legal and notary services;
- communication;
- transport support.
Often, enterprises are engaged in the provision of several types of services in various industries.
The non-production sector, together with all its institutions and enterprises that provide material services, in the aggregate is a social infrastructure.
There are also industries related to the service sector that service large social strata:
- government organization management;
- secondary education, primary, higher;
- the science;
- state security agencies;
- public associations.
Relationship with Productive Labor
Non-productive sphere does not create new value. However, this does not mean that such work is useless for society. Material production is the basis of social welfare. Non-productive sectors are a superstructure to the material and cannot exist without them.
National income is not created by the non-productive sphere, as it focuses on the comprehensive spiritual development of a person, his state of health, etc. Nevertheless, it can affect productivity, improve staff skills, that is, indirectly affect the state’s national income.
