EMPLOYMENT REGIMES AND THE QUALITY OF WORK; ED. BY DUNCAN GALLIE

The book makes a major new contribution to the sociology of employment by comparing the quality of working life in European societies with very different institutional systems - France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, and Sweden. It focuses in particular on skills and skill development, opportunities for training, the scope for initiative in work, the difficulty of combining work and family life, and the security of employment. Drawing on a range of nationally representative surveys, it reveals striking differences in the quality of work in different European countries. It also provides for the first time rigorous comparative evidence on the experiences of different types of employee and an assessment of whether there has been a trend over time to greater polarization between a core workforce of relatively privileged employees and a peripheral workforce suffering from cumulative disadvantage. It explores the relevance of three influential theoretical perspectives, focussing respectively on the common dynamics of capitalist societies, differences in production regimes between capitalist societies, and differences in the institutional systems of employment regulation. It argues that it is the third of these - an 'employment regime' perspective - that provides the most convincing account of the factors that affect the quality of work in capitalist societies. The findings underline the importance of differences in national policies for people's experiences of work and point to the need for a renewal at European level of initiatives for improving the quality of work

the Book Makes A Major New Contribution To The Sociology Of Employment By Comparing The Quality Of Working Life In European Societies With Very Different Institutional Systems—france, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, And Sweden. It Focuses In Particular On Skills And Skill Development, Opportunities For Training, The Scope For Initiative In Work, The Difficulty Of Combining Work And Family Life, And The Security Of Employment.

drawing On A Range Of Nationally Representative Surveys, It Reveals Striking Differences In The Quality Of Work In Different European Countries. It Also Provides For The First Time Rigorous Comparative Evidence On The Experiences Of Different Types Of Employee And An Assessment Of Whether There Has Been A Trend Over Time To Greater Polarization Between A Core Workforce Of Relatively Privileged Employees And A Peripheral Workforce Suffering From Cumulative Disadvantage. It Explores The Relevance Of Three Influential Theoretical Perspectives, Focussing Respectively On The Common Dynamics Of Capitalist Societies, Differences In Production Regimes Between Capitalist Societies, And Differences In The Institutional Systems Of Employment Regulation. It Argues That It Is The Third Of These—an 'employment Regime' Perspective—that Provides The Most Convincing Account Of The Factors That Affect The Quality Of Work In Capitalist Societies.

the Findings Underline The Importance Of Differences In National Policies For People's Experiences Of Work And Point To The Need For A Renewal At European Level Of Initiatives For Improving The Quality Of Work.

## Abstract The book compares the quality of working life in European societies with very different institutional systems — France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, and Sweden. It focuses in particular on skills and skill development, opportunities for training, the scope for initiative in work, the difficulty of combining work and family life, and the security of employment. Drawing on a range of nationally representative surveys, it reveals striking differences in the quality of work in different European countries. It also provides rigorous comparative evidence on the experiences of different types of employee, and an assessment of whether there has been a trend over time to greater polarization between a core workforce of relatively privileged employees and a peripheral workforce suffering from cumulative disadvantage. It explores the relevance of three influential theoretical perspectives, focussing respectively on the common dynamics of capitalist societies, differences in production regimes between capitalist societies, and differences in the institutional systems of employment regulation. It argues that it is the third of these — an ‘employment regime’ perspective — that provides the most convincing account of the factors that affect the quality of work in capitalist societies. The findings underline the importance of differences in national policies for people's experiences of work and point to the need for a renewal at European level of initiatives for improving the quality of work. "The book makes a major new contribution to the sociology of employment by comparing the quality of working life in European societies with very different institutional systems - France, Germany, Great Britain. Spain and Sweden. It focuses in particular on skills and skill development, opportunities for training, the scope for initiative in work, the difficulty of combining work and family life and the security of employment. Drawing on a range of nationally representative surveys, it reveals striking differences in the quality of work in different European countries. It also provides for the first time rigorous comparative evidence on the experiences of different types of employee and an assessment of whether there has been a trend over time to greater polarization between a core workforce of relatively privileged employees and a peripheral workforce suffering from cumulative disadvantage."--Jacket Contents......Page 6 List of Figures......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 9 List of Contributors......Page 13 Acknowledgements......Page 14 List of Abbreviations......Page 16 1. Production Regimes, Employment Regimes, and the Quality of Work......Page 18 2. Skills and Wages in European Labour Markets: Structure and Change......Page 52 3. Job-Related Training in Europe: Do Institutions Matter?......Page 94 4. Task Discretion and Job Quality......Page 122 5. Work and Family in Conflict? The Impact of Work Demands on Family Life......Page 154 6. Job Insecurity......Page 196 7. The Quality of Work Life in Comparative Perspective......Page 222 Appendix: Data Sources......Page 250 References......Page 264 C......Page 284 H......Page 285 M......Page 286 S......Page 287 Z......Page 288 E......Page 290 K......Page 291 S......Page 292 T......Page 293 W......Page 294