State of Working Europe
Last year saw the first publication of the State of Working Europe, produced in cooperation with two external co-authors (John Morley and Terry Ward). As it has been favourably received, it is agreed that SoWE should become an annual publication that combines rigorous data-based analysis and a normative perspective focussing on the needs and interests of working people. In the light of possible overlaps (and even confusion) with Benchmarking Working Europe, it has been decided to bring out the book for 1 May each year (and not for the Spring Summit as last year).
Description
Regarding content, the 2004 edition covered the situation and trends in employment, incomes, pensions and wider developments, such as demographic changes and Europe’s competitive position in the world. In future each issue will contain an up-dated overview of trends in incomes and employment, and an assessment of progress on economic, employment and social policies across the EU. In addition, each review will also address particular themes. The intention is to address the following themes in the 2005 issue:
Real living standards across the EU and the world
The role of minimum wages in reducing poverty and promoting social inclusion will be specifically addressed. The aim is to provide a better understanding of what the quality of daily life is really like for people living under different taxation and social and labour market regimes within the EU. The aim is also to see how these results compare for different strata of society, and relative to elsewhere in the world, notably the US.
Globalisation and working people in Europe
The intention is to review the evidence and implications concerning the economic and social aspects of globalisation in a balanced way, including the links to immigration and foreign direct investment, and to consider how far current policies and practices are equitable to all concerned. Particular attention will be paid the effect of changes in the main world development areas, notably China, for the situation of working people in the EU.
The changing nature and performance of EU labour markets
Conventional measures of labour market flexibility or mobility, which tend to focus on external, numerical flexibility – notably how easy it is to dismiss workers – add little to our understanding, or appreciation, of the quality or productivity of working life. Our intention is to look afresh at the functioning of EU labour markets – in particular to see how far the policy regimes that are in place really respond to the needs of workers, consumers and employers, and where and how they could most usefully be changed to the benefit of everybody, by promoting greater functional flexibility. In this context education and life-long learning are key issues.
Researchers
Andrew Watt
Senior researcherphone: +32 (0) 2 224 05 12