Quality Work and the Moral Economy of European Employment Policy. (27th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bolton, Sharon; Laaser, Knut; Mcguire, Darren
• Is Part Of: Journal of common market studies. Volume 54:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 583
• Page End: 598
• Publication Date: 2015-10-27
• Subjects: Flexicurity -- Quality work -- Moral Economy -- European employment policy -- Dignity -- Employment; European Economic Community countries -- Periodicals; European Union countries -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 382.9142
• DOI: 10.1111/jcms.12304
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9886

Abstract

Abstract: Following a decade of radical economic and workplace restructuring, it is important to understand how state employment policies support or deny human flourishing. This article utilizes a realist document analysis approach and reviews European employment policy through a moral economy lens. It fuses different moral economy approaches, drawing together the work of Karl Polanyi and Andrew Sayer a multi‐layered conceptual lens is offered that explores the tensions between a commodification of labour and human needs. A dominant market ideology is revealed, highlighting how quality work has been subsumed by the flexicurity agenda in the EU.