Routledge Advances in Social Economics

Working Time is a crucial issue for both research and public policy. It is a focal point for discussion about social values, family decision-making, economic competitiveness, and the very nature of economic growth and sustainable development. A growing number of workers around the world are reporting they are overworked, fatigued and unable to acheive the desired balance between work and family. The erstwhile standard working week appears to be disintegrating, and no one knows precisely what will replace it. This book presents the first comprehensive analysis of both paid and unpaid work time, integrating a unique discussion of overwork, underwork, shortening the working week, and flexible work practices. From the broad perspective of social economics, time at work is determined within a complex web of evolving culture and social relations, as well as market, technological, and macroeconomic forces, and institutions such as collective bargaining and government policy. Using a variety of new data sources, the authors review the latest trends on working time in numerous countries, providing theoretical perspectives on both overwork and underemployment, and appraising various public and workplace policies. This international and interdisciplinary volume will be of great interest to both scholars and students, as well as practitioners and advocates in the policy arena. Lonnie Golden, Deborah M Figart, Barry Bluestone, Stephen Rose, Stephen Lehndorff, Robert Drago, Robet Caplan, David Costanza, Tanya Brubaker, Darnell Cloud, Naomi Harris, Russell Kashian, t'Lynn Rigg