New Capitalism?: The Transformation of Work
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Doogan, Kevin, PUBLISHER: Polity Press, In this stimulating ong>andong> highly original ong>workong>, Kevin Doogan looks at contemporary social transformation through the lens of the labour market. Major themes of the day -- ong>globalizationong>, technological change ong>andong> the new economy, the pension ong>andong> demographic timebombs, flexibility ong>andong> traditional employment -- are all subject to critical scrutiny. We are often told that a new global economy has emerged which has transformed our lives. It is argued that the pace of technological change, the mobility of multinational capital ong>andong> the privatization of the welfare state have combined to create a more precarious world. Companies are outsourcing, jobs are migrating to China ong>andong> India, ong>andong> a job for life is said to be a thing of the past. The so-called 'new capitalism' is said to be the result of these profound changes. Kevin Doogan takes issue with these widely-accepted ideas ong>andong> subjects the transformation of ong>workong> to detailed examination through a comprehensive analysis of developments in Europe ong>andong> North America. He argues that precariousness is not a natural consequence of this fast-changing world; rather, current insecurities are manufactured, emanating from government policy ong>andong> the greater exposure of the economy to market forces. New Capitalism? The Transformation of ong>Workong> is sure to stimulate academic debate. Kevin Doogan's account will appeal not just to scholars, but also to upper-level students across the social sciences, including the sociology of ong>workong>, industrial relations, ong>globalizationong>, economics, social policy ong>andong> business studies