Conflict theorists say capitalists use the _____ to expand production during economic booms, and then lay off people during economic contractions.

• A. Reserve labor force
• B. Capital
• C. Technology
• D. Markets

Answer: (A)

Conflict theory highlights how capitalism relies on a pool of unemployed or underemployed workers—the reserve labor force. When the economy expands, firms can pull from this reserve to increase production, often keeping wages modest because there’s a ready supply of labor. When a downturn hits, those same workers are laid off first, letting capitalists cut costs and protect profits. This dynamic shows how power and class interests shape labor markets, with unemployment itself serving as a tool to manage labor costs and control workers. The other options don’t capture this specific mechanism: capital, technology, and markets describe broader aspects of production or exchange but not the strategic use of a labor pool to expand and contract with the business cycle.