Gary S. Fields
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199794645
- eISBN:
- 9780199928606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199794645.003.0011
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Macro- and Monetary Economics, Financial Economics
By this point, readers will have learned how the poorer half of the world's people work and what has been done in different countries to help the poor earn their way out of poverty. For readers who ...
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By this point, readers will have learned how the poorer half of the world's people work and what has been done in different countries to help the poor earn their way out of poverty. For readers who may be asking themselves “What can I do?” this short chapter talks about some of the possibilities ranging from helping spread information and good ideas to making companies more aware of the situations of the workers they employ to working for better public policies to devoting part of one's time or money to help solve the problems of the poor to making the fight against global poverty one's life's work.Less
By this point, readers will have learned how the poorer half of the world's people work and what has been done in different countries to help the poor earn their way out of poverty. For readers who may be asking themselves “What can I do?” this short chapter talks about some of the possibilities ranging from helping spread information and good ideas to making companies more aware of the situations of the workers they employ to working for better public policies to devoting part of one's time or money to help solve the problems of the poor to making the fight against global poverty one's life's work.
Leah F. Vosko
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199574810
- eISBN:
- 9780191722080
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199574810.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Political Economy, HRM / IR
This book seeks to understand the precarious margins of late‐capitalist labour markets. Its point of departure is the prevailing view that the full‐time continuous job or the standard employment ...
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This book seeks to understand the precarious margins of late‐capitalist labour markets. Its point of departure is the prevailing view that the full‐time continuous job or the standard employment relationship (SER) is being eclipsed by part‐time and temporary paid employment and self‐employment. To the extent that such a shift is taking place, what are its implications for precarious employment and those struggling against it? Addressing this question, the book examines the construction, consolidation, and contraction of the SER, taking as its focus the contested emergence—within, amongst and across different nation states—of regulations on ‘non‐standard’ forms of employment. These regulations ‘see’ the problem of precarious employment in ‘non‐standard’, which leads them to seek solutions minimizing deviations from the SER. Managing the Margins labels such approaches ‘SER‐centric’ and illustrates how they leave intact the precarious margins of the labour market. The book employs three conceptual lenses—the normative model of employment, the gender contract, and citizenship boundaries. Chapters 1 to 3 sketch the gendered development of regulations forging the SER in parts of Western Europe, Australia, Canada, and the US, and its evolution in the International Labour Code. Chapters 4 to 6 examine post‐1990 international labour regulations responding to precariousness in employment—focusing on the ILO Convention on Part‐Time Work, EU Directives on Fixed‐Term and Temporary Agency Work, and the ILO Recommendation on the Employment Relationship. To assess their logic, these chapters use illustrations of the regulation of part‐time employment in Australia, temporary employment in the EU 15, and self‐employment in OECD countries. The book concludes by assessing alternatives to SER‐centrism.Less
This book seeks to understand the precarious margins of late‐capitalist labour markets. Its point of departure is the prevailing view that the full‐time continuous job or the standard employment relationship (SER) is being eclipsed by part‐time and temporary paid employment and self‐employment. To the extent that such a shift is taking place, what are its implications for precarious employment and those struggling against it? Addressing this question, the book examines the construction, consolidation, and contraction of the SER, taking as its focus the contested emergence—within, amongst and across different nation states—of regulations on ‘non‐standard’ forms of employment. These regulations ‘see’ the problem of precarious employment in ‘non‐standard’, which leads them to seek solutions minimizing deviations from the SER. Managing the Margins labels such approaches ‘SER‐centric’ and illustrates how they leave intact the precarious margins of the labour market. The book employs three conceptual lenses—the normative model of employment, the gender contract, and citizenship boundaries. Chapters 1 to 3 sketch the gendered development of regulations forging the SER in parts of Western Europe, Australia, Canada, and the US, and its evolution in the International Labour Code. Chapters 4 to 6 examine post‐1990 international labour regulations responding to precariousness in employment—focusing on the ILO Convention on Part‐Time Work, EU Directives on Fixed‐Term and Temporary Agency Work, and the ILO Recommendation on the Employment Relationship. To assess their logic, these chapters use illustrations of the regulation of part‐time employment in Australia, temporary employment in the EU 15, and self‐employment in OECD countries. The book concludes by assessing alternatives to SER‐centrism.
Leah F. Vosko
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199574810
- eISBN:
- 9780191722080
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199574810.003.0007
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Political Economy, HRM / IR
This chapter examines responses to the destabilization of the employment relationship and labour market insecurities coming in its train. The regulation of principal focus is the ILO Recommendation ...
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This chapter examines responses to the destabilization of the employment relationship and labour market insecurities coming in its train. The regulation of principal focus is the ILO Recommendation on the Employment Relationship (2006), marking a shift from equal treatment to effective protection. The empirical focus is Industrialized Market Economy Countries experiencing a rise of self‐employment resembling paid employment, a subset of which was precarious, in the late 20th century. Two approaches to self‐employment are scrutinized: the approach advanced in Australia at the federal level, characterized by the promotion of independent contracting, and the approach pursued in several EU countries as well as at the Community level, characterized by measures supporting entrepreneurship while aiming to limit insecurities among the self‐employed. Among these approaches, EU‐level proposals addressing ‘economically dependent work’ hold promise. However, even they retain the binary division between paid or subordinate employment and self‐employment rather than extending labour protection to all workers.Less
This chapter examines responses to the destabilization of the employment relationship and labour market insecurities coming in its train. The regulation of principal focus is the ILO Recommendation on the Employment Relationship (2006), marking a shift from equal treatment to effective protection. The empirical focus is Industrialized Market Economy Countries experiencing a rise of self‐employment resembling paid employment, a subset of which was precarious, in the late 20th century. Two approaches to self‐employment are scrutinized: the approach advanced in Australia at the federal level, characterized by the promotion of independent contracting, and the approach pursued in several EU countries as well as at the Community level, characterized by measures supporting entrepreneurship while aiming to limit insecurities among the self‐employed. Among these approaches, EU‐level proposals addressing ‘economically dependent work’ hold promise. However, even they retain the binary division between paid or subordinate employment and self‐employment rather than extending labour protection to all workers.
Katrina Honeyman
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199226009
- eISBN:
- 9780191710315
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199226009.003.0006
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Business History
It is reasonable to assume that entrepreneurial talent is distributed evenly through the population, yet the world of business is presented as one dominated by men. Business historians have ...
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It is reasonable to assume that entrepreneurial talent is distributed evenly through the population, yet the world of business is presented as one dominated by men. Business historians have perpetuated the myth that women were marginal to commercial activity despite growing evidence of the female contribution to family businesses and to innovative practice. For centuries women have been instrumental as partners in or originators of business, yet the nature and impact of their commercial acumen has been seriously under-reported. This chapter is concerned with identifying and exploring three dimensions of women's interaction with 20th-century business, namely: their specific contribution to business activity; the barriers to such activity; and the way in which business historians have understood or interpreted women's commercial engagement. It uses data on self employment as an indicator of entrepreneurship and argues that through their business activity women made a significant contribution to the expansion of the commercial sector in Britain during the second half of the 20th century. The location of the majority of women's businesses in the service sector paralleled their experience of employment, but by the onset of the new millennium women were seizing the opportunities presented by the new economy. It is now time for business historians to move outside their narrow focus of analysis and to consider the diversity of businesses and business people.Less
It is reasonable to assume that entrepreneurial talent is distributed evenly through the population, yet the world of business is presented as one dominated by men. Business historians have perpetuated the myth that women were marginal to commercial activity despite growing evidence of the female contribution to family businesses and to innovative practice. For centuries women have been instrumental as partners in or originators of business, yet the nature and impact of their commercial acumen has been seriously under-reported. This chapter is concerned with identifying and exploring three dimensions of women's interaction with 20th-century business, namely: their specific contribution to business activity; the barriers to such activity; and the way in which business historians have understood or interpreted women's commercial engagement. It uses data on self employment as an indicator of entrepreneurship and argues that through their business activity women made a significant contribution to the expansion of the commercial sector in Britain during the second half of the 20th century. The location of the majority of women's businesses in the service sector paralleled their experience of employment, but by the onset of the new millennium women were seizing the opportunities presented by the new economy. It is now time for business historians to move outside their narrow focus of analysis and to consider the diversity of businesses and business people.
Marcus Rebick
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- July 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780199247240
- eISBN:
- 9780191602566
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199247242.003.0004
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, South and East Asia
Focuses on the growing use of atypical labour in non-standard forms of employment, especially part-time employment in Japan. Examines a number of different possible explanations for this ongoing ...
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Focuses on the growing use of atypical labour in non-standard forms of employment, especially part-time employment in Japan. Examines a number of different possible explanations for this ongoing trend and concludes that the major factors are cost-cutting by employers, demands for greater flexibility in working hours, and the decline of the family enterprise and self-employment.Less
Focuses on the growing use of atypical labour in non-standard forms of employment, especially part-time employment in Japan. Examines a number of different possible explanations for this ongoing trend and concludes that the major factors are cost-cutting by employers, demands for greater flexibility in working hours, and the decline of the family enterprise and self-employment.
Andrew E. Clark
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199732739
- eISBN:
- 9780199776887
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199732739.003.0014
- Subject:
- Psychology, Social Psychology
This chapter uses repeated cross-section data ISSP data from 1989, 1997 and 2005 to consider movements in job quality. It is first underlined that not having a job when you want one is a major source ...
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This chapter uses repeated cross-section data ISSP data from 1989, 1997 and 2005 to consider movements in job quality. It is first underlined that not having a job when you want one is a major source of low well-being. Second, job values have remained fairly stable over time, although workers seem to give increasing importance to the more “social” aspects of jobs: useful and helpful jobs. The central finding of this chapter is that, following a substantial fall between 1989 and 1997, subjective measures of job quality have mostly bounced back between 1997 and 2005. Overall job satisfaction is higher in 2005 than it was in 1989. Last, the rate of self-employment has been falling gently in ISSP data; even so three to four times as many people say they would prefer to be self-employed than are actually self-employed. As the self-employed are more satisfied than are employees, one consistent interpretation of the above is that the barriers to self-employment have grown in recent years.Less
This chapter uses repeated cross-section data ISSP data from 1989, 1997 and 2005 to consider movements in job quality. It is first underlined that not having a job when you want one is a major source of low well-being. Second, job values have remained fairly stable over time, although workers seem to give increasing importance to the more “social” aspects of jobs: useful and helpful jobs. The central finding of this chapter is that, following a substantial fall between 1989 and 1997, subjective measures of job quality have mostly bounced back between 1997 and 2005. Overall job satisfaction is higher in 2005 than it was in 1989. Last, the rate of self-employment has been falling gently in ISSP data; even so three to four times as many people say they would prefer to be self-employed than are actually self-employed. As the self-employed are more satisfied than are employees, one consistent interpretation of the above is that the barriers to self-employment have grown in recent years.
Donald M. Linhorst
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195171877
- eISBN:
- 9780199865338
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195171877.003.0009
- Subject:
- Social Work, Health and Mental Health
This chapter applies the nine conditions for empowerment introduced in Chapter 4 to employment. Employment is empowering because it affords people a range of consumer and lifestyle choices, it ...
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This chapter applies the nine conditions for empowerment introduced in Chapter 4 to employment. Employment is empowering because it affords people a range of consumer and lifestyle choices, it increases financial independence, it has interpersonal and social benefits, and it plays an important role in the recovery process of many people with mental illness. Employment incentives and disincentives are explored, including those found under SSI and SSDI. The chapter also discusses structures to promote employment, including supported employment, transitional employment positions, consumer businesses and self-employment, social enterprises, sheltered workshops, and volunteer work. Case studies from a state psychiatric hospital and a community mental health illustrate the application of conditions. The chapter concludes with fourteen guidelines to promote empowerment through employment.Less
This chapter applies the nine conditions for empowerment introduced in Chapter 4 to employment. Employment is empowering because it affords people a range of consumer and lifestyle choices, it increases financial independence, it has interpersonal and social benefits, and it plays an important role in the recovery process of many people with mental illness. Employment incentives and disincentives are explored, including those found under SSI and SSDI. The chapter also discusses structures to promote employment, including supported employment, transitional employment positions, consumer businesses and self-employment, social enterprises, sheltered workshops, and volunteer work. Case studies from a state psychiatric hospital and a community mental health illustrate the application of conditions. The chapter concludes with fourteen guidelines to promote empowerment through employment.
Hiromitsu Ishi
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199242566
- eISBN:
- 9780191596452
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199242569.003.0009
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, South and East Asia
Deals with the effects of income taxes on income distribution. It is widely believed that the individual income tax, with progressive tax rates, can reduce the inequality of income distribution or at ...
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Deals with the effects of income taxes on income distribution. It is widely believed that the individual income tax, with progressive tax rates, can reduce the inequality of income distribution or at least slowdown its growth. An attempt is made to correlate information about the redistribution effects of income taxes with the distribution of income.Less
Deals with the effects of income taxes on income distribution. It is widely believed that the individual income tax, with progressive tax rates, can reduce the inequality of income distribution or at least slowdown its growth. An attempt is made to correlate information about the redistribution effects of income taxes with the distribution of income.
Giovanni Andrea Cornia and Vladimir Popov (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199242184
- eISBN:
- 9780191697043
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199242184.003.0007
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
This chapter discusses the pre-1989 Cuban economic structure and examines how the post-1989 external shocks filtered through the Cuban economy. It discusses how the reform process in Cuba shifted in ...
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This chapter discusses the pre-1989 Cuban economic structure and examines how the post-1989 external shocks filtered through the Cuban economy. It discusses how the reform process in Cuba shifted in 1993–4 to a more dramatic approach to reforming the economy, including the depenalization of dollar use, legalization of self-employment, and the emergence of free markets in agricultural products. It also discusses various political blockages to economic reform. It concludes by analysing the factors that could ease a transition to some form of market economy in Cuba and sketches some likely scenarios for the future.Less
This chapter discusses the pre-1989 Cuban economic structure and examines how the post-1989 external shocks filtered through the Cuban economy. It discusses how the reform process in Cuba shifted in 1993–4 to a more dramatic approach to reforming the economy, including the depenalization of dollar use, legalization of self-employment, and the emergence of free markets in agricultural products. It also discusses various political blockages to economic reform. It concludes by analysing the factors that could ease a transition to some form of market economy in Cuba and sketches some likely scenarios for the future.
Alan Burton-Jones
- Published in print:
- 1999
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198296225
- eISBN:
- 9780191685217
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198296225.003.0006
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Knowledge Management, Strategy
Dependent contractors are self-employed and their incomes are dependent on one or a few firms. Dependent contractors are in charge of activities which are mission critical to the firm and require ...
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Dependent contractors are self-employed and their incomes are dependent on one or a few firms. Dependent contractors are in charge of activities which are mission critical to the firm and require high levels of firm-specific knowledge. Because of the risks of production inefficiencies, quality loss, unauthorized use of corporate knowledge, and other such risks associated with outsourcing to external suppliers, firms tend to externalize the routine aspects of mission critical activities. Through presenting statistical information, self-employment growth rates, demographics, and industry and occupational breakdowns, this chapter provides an analysis about the features of dependent contracting and how both firms and contractors can benefit from such an arrangement.Less
Dependent contractors are self-employed and their incomes are dependent on one or a few firms. Dependent contractors are in charge of activities which are mission critical to the firm and require high levels of firm-specific knowledge. Because of the risks of production inefficiencies, quality loss, unauthorized use of corporate knowledge, and other such risks associated with outsourcing to external suppliers, firms tend to externalize the routine aspects of mission critical activities. Through presenting statistical information, self-employment growth rates, demographics, and industry and occupational breakdowns, this chapter provides an analysis about the features of dependent contracting and how both firms and contractors can benefit from such an arrangement.
Gary S. Fields
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199794645
- eISBN:
- 9780199928606
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199794645.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Macro- and Monetary Economics, Financial Economics
More than three billion people in the world—half of humankind—live on less than two-and-a-half US dollars per person per day. Excellent books can be found on ending world poverty. These books go into ...
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More than three billion people in the world—half of humankind—live on less than two-and-a-half US dollars per person per day. Excellent books can be found on ending world poverty. These books go into depth on many important aspects of economic development but do not focus on employment and self-employment, work and nonwork. The present volume fills in where these others leave off. For the last several decades, Gary Fields has been teaching, conducting research, and working as a policy advisor on labor market issues. Policy makers, businesspeople, and researchers know a great deal about how the world's poor work and what has improved conditions for them. We know how the poor have managed to invest in improving their own self-employment earning opportunities. We know what it takes for the private sector to want to set up operations in a developing country, thereby creating jobs and paying the taxes that can be used to build roads and schools and fund social programs. We know how poor-country governments can stimulate economic growth and make that growth more inclusive of the poor. And we know how the development banks, the rich-country governments, and other development organizations can help poor-country governments and other organizations do what they do not have the means to do on their own: create more good jobs, improve earnings levels in the poorer jobs, and enhance the skills and productivity of their working people. This book shares those lessons with you.Less
More than three billion people in the world—half of humankind—live on less than two-and-a-half US dollars per person per day. Excellent books can be found on ending world poverty. These books go into depth on many important aspects of economic development but do not focus on employment and self-employment, work and nonwork. The present volume fills in where these others leave off. For the last several decades, Gary Fields has been teaching, conducting research, and working as a policy advisor on labor market issues. Policy makers, businesspeople, and researchers know a great deal about how the world's poor work and what has improved conditions for them. We know how the poor have managed to invest in improving their own self-employment earning opportunities. We know what it takes for the private sector to want to set up operations in a developing country, thereby creating jobs and paying the taxes that can be used to build roads and schools and fund social programs. We know how poor-country governments can stimulate economic growth and make that growth more inclusive of the poor. And we know how the development banks, the rich-country governments, and other development organizations can help poor-country governments and other organizations do what they do not have the means to do on their own: create more good jobs, improve earnings levels in the poorer jobs, and enhance the skills and productivity of their working people. This book shares those lessons with you.
John Haltiwanger, Erik Hurst, Javier Miranda, and Antoinette Schoar (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780226454078
- eISBN:
- 9780226454108
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226454108.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Econometrics
The contribution of entrepreneurial businesses to economic growth is a frequently debated topic among the academic and policy-making communities and the subject of much discussion in the business and ...
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The contribution of entrepreneurial businesses to economic growth is a frequently debated topic among the academic and policy-making communities and the subject of much discussion in the business and popular press. This debate stems from the enormous heterogeneity across entrepreneurs. A small share of entrepreneurs exhibit high growth and contribute substantially to job creation, innovation and productivity growth. However, the vast majority either fails or doesn’t grow. For both measurement and conceptual reasons, this heterogeneity is not well understood. Understanding this heterogeneity requires tracking the career paths of entrepreneurs including the differences in socio-economic circumstances across entrepreneurs. It also requires studying the obstacles and challenges facing entrepreneurs such as the difficulties of starting up businesses and obtaining financing. To complicate matters further entrepreneurs operate in a constantly changing economic and technological environment. This volume explores these issues from a number of different perspectives. A common theme is the need for improved economics measurement of entrepreneurial activity. Chapters in this volume take stock of our existing knowledge and data infrastructure on measuring entrepreneurial activity and offer insights and perspective on how to make improvements in the future. The chapters fit into three broad themes but with substantial overlap especially given the focus on economics measurement. The first broad theme is to explore entrepreneurial heterogeneity. The second broad theme is the challenges that entrepreneurs face and how this has varied over time including over the business cycle. The third broad theme focuses on core data and measurement issues and gaps.Less
The contribution of entrepreneurial businesses to economic growth is a frequently debated topic among the academic and policy-making communities and the subject of much discussion in the business and popular press. This debate stems from the enormous heterogeneity across entrepreneurs. A small share of entrepreneurs exhibit high growth and contribute substantially to job creation, innovation and productivity growth. However, the vast majority either fails or doesn’t grow. For both measurement and conceptual reasons, this heterogeneity is not well understood. Understanding this heterogeneity requires tracking the career paths of entrepreneurs including the differences in socio-economic circumstances across entrepreneurs. It also requires studying the obstacles and challenges facing entrepreneurs such as the difficulties of starting up businesses and obtaining financing. To complicate matters further entrepreneurs operate in a constantly changing economic and technological environment. This volume explores these issues from a number of different perspectives. A common theme is the need for improved economics measurement of entrepreneurial activity. Chapters in this volume take stock of our existing knowledge and data infrastructure on measuring entrepreneurial activity and offer insights and perspective on how to make improvements in the future. The chapters fit into three broad themes but with substantial overlap especially given the focus on economics measurement. The first broad theme is to explore entrepreneurial heterogeneity. The second broad theme is the challenges that entrepreneurs face and how this has varied over time including over the business cycle. The third broad theme focuses on core data and measurement issues and gaps.
Werner Eichhorst and Paul Marx
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199797899
- eISBN:
- 9780199933488
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199797899.003.0004
- Subject:
- Social Work, Social Policy
The chapter compares employment structures in five Continental European welfare states, with a focus on private services. Despite a common trend to overcome institutional employment barriers by ...
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The chapter compares employment structures in five Continental European welfare states, with a focus on private services. Despite a common trend to overcome institutional employment barriers by creating a more divided labor market, a closer look reveals considerable differences between national patterns of standard and non-standard work. We identify five transformative pathways towards a more flexible and cheaper use of labor in Continental European welfare states: 1. defection from permanent contracts, 2. from full-time employment, 3. from dependent employment, 4. growing wage dispersion, and 5. government-sponsored labor cost reductions. The chapter shows that by relying on one or several of these options, each country developed a distinct solution for the labor cost problem in the service sector, which corresponds to a particular form of dualization.Less
The chapter compares employment structures in five Continental European welfare states, with a focus on private services. Despite a common trend to overcome institutional employment barriers by creating a more divided labor market, a closer look reveals considerable differences between national patterns of standard and non-standard work. We identify five transformative pathways towards a more flexible and cheaper use of labor in Continental European welfare states: 1. defection from permanent contracts, 2. from full-time employment, 3. from dependent employment, 4. growing wage dispersion, and 5. government-sponsored labor cost reductions. The chapter shows that by relying on one or several of these options, each country developed a distinct solution for the labor cost problem in the service sector, which corresponds to a particular form of dualization.
Gary S. Fields
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199794645
- eISBN:
- 9780199928606
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199794645.003.0010
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Macro- and Monetary Economics, Financial Economics
In the countries in which the world's poor are concentrated, the great majority of working people are self-employed. As detailed in this chapter, a program to increase the returns to self-employment ...
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In the countries in which the world's poor are concentrated, the great majority of working people are self-employed. As detailed in this chapter, a program to increase the returns to self-employment would involve policy actions in the following areas: design products to help raise the productivity of the self-employed; adopt a positive policy stance and avoid hassles; provide the poor in agriculture with more to work with; facilitate supplemental off-farm wage employment and self-employment; make capital available to the poor, especially through microfinance; build skills and business know-how; and stimulate micro-franchising.Less
In the countries in which the world's poor are concentrated, the great majority of working people are self-employed. As detailed in this chapter, a program to increase the returns to self-employment would involve policy actions in the following areas: design products to help raise the productivity of the self-employed; adopt a positive policy stance and avoid hassles; provide the poor in agriculture with more to work with; facilitate supplemental off-farm wage employment and self-employment; make capital available to the poor, especially through microfinance; build skills and business know-how; and stimulate micro-franchising.
Alberto Dávila and Marie T. Mora
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780804777933
- eISBN:
- 9780804788014
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Stanford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.11126/stanford/9780804777933.003.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
This chapter provides an overview of the changing entrepreneurial tendencies among the Hispanic population in the first decade of the 2000s, which sets the stage for more detailed topics discussed ...
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This chapter provides an overview of the changing entrepreneurial tendencies among the Hispanic population in the first decade of the 2000s, which sets the stage for more detailed topics discussed later in the book. In particular, the chapter points out that the growing size of the Hispanic population as well as rising self-employment rates explain the recent growth in in the number of Hispanic-owned businesses. This chapter also presents information on the heterogeneity of the Hispanic population by highlighting the differences that existed across regions, industries, and ethnic subgroups. In addition, the chapter makes note of the importance of the business cycle when studying Hispanic entrepreneurship.Less
This chapter provides an overview of the changing entrepreneurial tendencies among the Hispanic population in the first decade of the 2000s, which sets the stage for more detailed topics discussed later in the book. In particular, the chapter points out that the growing size of the Hispanic population as well as rising self-employment rates explain the recent growth in in the number of Hispanic-owned businesses. This chapter also presents information on the heterogeneity of the Hispanic population by highlighting the differences that existed across regions, industries, and ethnic subgroups. In addition, the chapter makes note of the importance of the business cycle when studying Hispanic entrepreneurship.
Renate Ortlieb, Maura Sheehan, and Jaan Masso
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- January 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780190864798
- eISBN:
- 9780190864828
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190864798.003.0020
- Subject:
- Social Work, Social Policy, Communities and Organizations
Since the onset of the recent economic crisis, there has been renewed interest among policymakers across Europe in measures to stimulate self-employment and entrepreneurship as an alternative to ...
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Since the onset of the recent economic crisis, there has been renewed interest among policymakers across Europe in measures to stimulate self-employment and entrepreneurship as an alternative to unemployment. However, fundamental questions about policies that promote self-employment, especially among young people, remain unanswered. For instance, do such policies create new jobs or just promote new forms of precarious, poor-quality employment? This chapter finds that for some young people, self-employment is an option that offers high-quality jobs. Young self-employed people report that they can use and further develop their skills, and they appreciate the high degrees of autonomy and flexibility. However, the actual volume of jobs created through self-employment is low. Moreover, job quality is impaired by poor social protection, with severe negative consequences especially in the long term. Policies are needed to address the risks associated with self-employment, especially in relation to unemployment, health care, and pension benefits.Less
Since the onset of the recent economic crisis, there has been renewed interest among policymakers across Europe in measures to stimulate self-employment and entrepreneurship as an alternative to unemployment. However, fundamental questions about policies that promote self-employment, especially among young people, remain unanswered. For instance, do such policies create new jobs or just promote new forms of precarious, poor-quality employment? This chapter finds that for some young people, self-employment is an option that offers high-quality jobs. Young self-employed people report that they can use and further develop their skills, and they appreciate the high degrees of autonomy and flexibility. However, the actual volume of jobs created through self-employment is low. Moreover, job quality is impaired by poor social protection, with severe negative consequences especially in the long term. Policies are needed to address the risks associated with self-employment, especially in relation to unemployment, health care, and pension benefits.
Katharine G. Abraham, John C. Haltiwanger, Kristin Sandusky, and James R. Spletzer
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- January 2022
- ISBN:
- 9780226728179
- eISBN:
- 9780226728209
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226728209.003.0008
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Econometrics
The rise of the “gig economy” has attracted attention from scholars and the popular media, mostly devoted to jobs mediated through online platforms. While nontraditional work arrangements have been a ...
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The rise of the “gig economy” has attracted attention from scholars and the popular media, mostly devoted to jobs mediated through online platforms. While nontraditional work arrangements have been a perennial subject of study, the perception that new technology is accelerating the pace of change in the organization of work has fueled interest in how such changes affect workers and firms. This chapter provides a typology of work arrangements and reviews how different arrangements, especially gig activity, are captured in existing data. A challenge for understanding recent trends is that household survey data show little evidence of the growth in self-employment that would be implied by a surge in gig activity, and administrative data evince considerable recent growth. An examination of matched individual-level survey and administrative records shows a large and growing fraction of those with self-employment activity in administrative data have no such activity recorded in household survey data. The share of those with self-employment activity in household survey data but not administrative data is smaller and has not grown. Improving measurement of self-employment activity may include adding more probing questions to household survey questionnaires and developing integrated data sets that combine survey, administrative and, potentially, private data.Less
The rise of the “gig economy” has attracted attention from scholars and the popular media, mostly devoted to jobs mediated through online platforms. While nontraditional work arrangements have been a perennial subject of study, the perception that new technology is accelerating the pace of change in the organization of work has fueled interest in how such changes affect workers and firms. This chapter provides a typology of work arrangements and reviews how different arrangements, especially gig activity, are captured in existing data. A challenge for understanding recent trends is that household survey data show little evidence of the growth in self-employment that would be implied by a surge in gig activity, and administrative data evince considerable recent growth. An examination of matched individual-level survey and administrative records shows a large and growing fraction of those with self-employment activity in administrative data have no such activity recorded in household survey data. The share of those with self-employment activity in household survey data but not administrative data is smaller and has not grown. Improving measurement of self-employment activity may include adding more probing questions to household survey questionnaires and developing integrated data sets that combine survey, administrative and, potentially, private data.
Laurie Cohen
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- November 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199697199
- eISBN:
- 9780191779534
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199697199.003.0004
- Subject:
- Business and Management, HRM / IR
This chapter is based on interviews conducted in 1993/4 and examines women’s moves from employment to self-employment. It starts by introducing and critiquing three related dichotomies that persist ...
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This chapter is based on interviews conducted in 1993/4 and examines women’s moves from employment to self-employment. It starts by introducing and critiquing three related dichotomies that persist in the literature on this career transition: subordination versus a bid for freedom; the logic of necessity versus the logic of autonomy; and push versus pull. It proposes a model for explaining women’s decisions to make this move that transcends some of the limitations of existing understandings. This iterative, temporal model includes three key dimensions: self-employment awareness; transition triggers, organizational and domestic; and finally modes of engagement with self-employment, conceptualized as proactive, reactive, and adaptive. Central to the analysis is a persistent, gendered ideology of the family and its implications for their positions within established organizations. An interesting question is the extent to which these accounts now feel dated, and what has changed in the interim period.Less
This chapter is based on interviews conducted in 1993/4 and examines women’s moves from employment to self-employment. It starts by introducing and critiquing three related dichotomies that persist in the literature on this career transition: subordination versus a bid for freedom; the logic of necessity versus the logic of autonomy; and push versus pull. It proposes a model for explaining women’s decisions to make this move that transcends some of the limitations of existing understandings. This iterative, temporal model includes three key dimensions: self-employment awareness; transition triggers, organizational and domestic; and finally modes of engagement with self-employment, conceptualized as proactive, reactive, and adaptive. Central to the analysis is a persistent, gendered ideology of the family and its implications for their positions within established organizations. An interesting question is the extent to which these accounts now feel dated, and what has changed in the interim period.
Christopher Cramer, John Sender, and Arkebe Oqubay
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- July 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780198832331
- eISBN:
- 9780191870972
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198832331.003.0007
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
Most economists think there is little wage employment in Africa and doubt the potential for faster growth of paid employment. They favour supply-side measures encouraging self-employment. The ...
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Most economists think there is little wage employment in Africa and doubt the potential for faster growth of paid employment. They favour supply-side measures encouraging self-employment. The statistical base of conventional views is extremely unreliable. Even the poor statistics that are available do not support pessimism about wage employment in African countries, which has been expanding (and as a share of total employment). Huge numbers of wage workers, including women in domestic service, agricultural child workers, and, often, factory workers, are also invisible in the data. There is no reason for pessimistic predictions about slow fertility rate decline in Africa. There are realistic policies to encourage a faster rate of growth of wage opportunities, for example, to increase demand for young and female rural workers. Also, employment protection legislation (EPL) is not a brake on investment, productivity increases, and growth; excessive labour market ‘flexibility’ subsidizes inefficient enterprises.Less
Most economists think there is little wage employment in Africa and doubt the potential for faster growth of paid employment. They favour supply-side measures encouraging self-employment. The statistical base of conventional views is extremely unreliable. Even the poor statistics that are available do not support pessimism about wage employment in African countries, which has been expanding (and as a share of total employment). Huge numbers of wage workers, including women in domestic service, agricultural child workers, and, often, factory workers, are also invisible in the data. There is no reason for pessimistic predictions about slow fertility rate decline in Africa. There are realistic policies to encourage a faster rate of growth of wage opportunities, for example, to increase demand for young and female rural workers. Also, employment protection legislation (EPL) is not a brake on investment, productivity increases, and growth; excessive labour market ‘flexibility’ subsidizes inefficient enterprises.
Radha Jagannathan and Ioanna Tsoulou
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- January 2022
- ISBN:
- 9781529200102
- eISBN:
- 9781529200140
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781529200102.003.0005
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Political Economy
Written by Radha Jagannathan and Ioanna Tsoulou, this chapter begins with a discussion of the economic turmoil Greece has experienced in recent history and takes us through the debt crisis, the ...
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Written by Radha Jagannathan and Ioanna Tsoulou, this chapter begins with a discussion of the economic turmoil Greece has experienced in recent history and takes us through the debt crisis, the austerity measures that followed, and the cash-for-reform deal with the EU. Focusing principally on the supply side and on the Greek society’s tendency for over-educating its young, the chapter describes the rise of the precariat as a direct consequence of the labor market’s inability to absorb the high-educated/high skilled labor, and focuses attention on the prevailing norms of clientelism, nepotism and non-meritocracy that have earned Greece a rather dubious distinction as one of the most corrupt western democracies. After an overview of the Greek education system and the rather poor reputation of its VET, the chapter provides a comparative discussion of the active labor market policies in Greece and Portugal and why similar reforms in the two countries led to divergent results. The chapter explores Greece’s capacity to adopt an entrepreneurship pathway to curbing youth unemployment and presents results from a survey of 30 Greek youth who opined on the issues of youth labor market.Less
Written by Radha Jagannathan and Ioanna Tsoulou, this chapter begins with a discussion of the economic turmoil Greece has experienced in recent history and takes us through the debt crisis, the austerity measures that followed, and the cash-for-reform deal with the EU. Focusing principally on the supply side and on the Greek society’s tendency for over-educating its young, the chapter describes the rise of the precariat as a direct consequence of the labor market’s inability to absorb the high-educated/high skilled labor, and focuses attention on the prevailing norms of clientelism, nepotism and non-meritocracy that have earned Greece a rather dubious distinction as one of the most corrupt western democracies. After an overview of the Greek education system and the rather poor reputation of its VET, the chapter provides a comparative discussion of the active labor market policies in Greece and Portugal and why similar reforms in the two countries led to divergent results. The chapter explores Greece’s capacity to adopt an entrepreneurship pathway to curbing youth unemployment and presents results from a survey of 30 Greek youth who opined on the issues of youth labor market.
