There is a dear interconnection between the changes in society and economic growth. The industrial revolution accelerated social changes in all spheres of daily life: the perception of time, the appearance of innovative products, new consumption patterns, an attitude which encourages creativity and the creation of the financial system to manage the unbridled growth of added value, of the accumulation of wealth. This “industrial bonanza”, reflected in the media, seemed to turn a blind eye to the masses of men, women and children who were dragged to the factories, mines, and small workshops in order to “squeeze” as much work out of them as possible.

The social problems caused by exclusion cannot go hidden for long. Gradually, “industrial illnesses” emerged, along with the demand for hydraulic services and transport services for expanding cities, allegations of exploitation of child labour, trades unions’ campaigns for better pay and working conditions. It is therefore important that when we refer to social exclusion, we make it clear that it is the result of the “capital accumulation”; in other words, there is a directly proportional relationship between greater accumulation (capital, land, institutions, etc.) and greater social exclusion of broad sectors of the population.