Flexibility and stability in working life Upplaga 2

Flexibility is an ambiguous concept and its theoretical clarity is lacking. Large parts of the literature on the subject are prescriptive and ideological rather than empirical and analytical. This book contributes both theoretically and empirically to expound the importance of clearer concepts in the international and national debates on economic systems, labour markets, work organizations, and experiences of work. The authors place 'flexibility' in a new theoretical concept as juxtaposed to 'stability'. By relating these concepts to each other it is possible to open up a perspective in which flexibility as well as stability is wanted by someone. Moreover, flexibility may mean instability for another, while stability may imply inflexibility for another. Much terminological confusion and ambiguity are cleared up by this suggestion.