Management, work and welfare in Western Europe. A historical and contemporary analysis

Book abstract:

This book analyses the relationship between management, work and welfare across Western Europe at the end of the twentieth century. In a unique study, the authors consider the political and economic connections between management practices, national industrial relations and welfare institutions.

The authors first consider the history of European work and welfare practices, and then focus on trends in the post-war period. They discover that growing similarities in European work and welfare practices represent a gradual shift away from the ethos of collective to individual responsibility. The authors find that the oil recessions of the 1970s, the resurgence of the political right, the collapse of communism and the European Union's response to global forces have destabilized the post-war welfare regime. They also conclude that these forces have led to a gradual, though not irreversible, shift towards the 'contract' model of citizenship which prevails in the United States.

The ten chapters are: A Western European tradition in management, work and welfare; The historical roots of Western European management, work and welfare; Management, work and welfare before 1940: 'Logics' of organization and citizenship?; The political economy of Europe in capitalism's 'Golden Age', 1945-75; Management, work and welfare in the 'Golden Age'; The growing 'Americanization' of Western European political economy; Management in contemporary Western Europe; Work in contemporary Western Europe; Welfare in contemporary Western Europe; The future of European management, work and welfare.

This book is essential reading for all those interested in European management, employment relations and social policy.

Mick Carpenter is Reader in Social Policy at the University of Warwick and Steve Jefferys is Professor of European Employment Studies at the University of North London.