Intro; Preface and Acknowledgements; Contents; List of Figures; List of Tables; 1 Introduction: The Precarity Debate; 1.1 What Is at Stake?; 1.2 The Need for Data; 1.3 A Note on Terminology: Precarity, Insecurity, Contingency; 1.4 The Neoliberal Period; 1.5 Class, Work and Workplaces; 1.6 The Structure of the Argument; References; 2 Theorists of Transformation; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Apostles of New Capitalism; 2.3 From Marx to the Multitude; 2.4 From Precarity to the Precariat; 2.5 Beyond the Precariat; 2.6 Dual Labour Markets, Segmentation and Flexibility; 2.7 Summary; References
3 Conceptualising Precarity and Insecurity3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Visions of Precarity; 3.3 Towards a Definition of Precarity; 3.4 Visions of Insecurity; 3.5 Towards a Definition of Insecurity; 3.6 Summary; References; 4 Is Work Being De-standardised?; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Part-Time Work; 4.3 Temporary Contracts; 4.4 Agency Work; 4.5 Zero-Hours Contracts; 4.6 Self-Employment and the Gig Economy; 4.7 Summary; References; 5 Is Employment Tenure Declining?; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Studies of UK Job Tenure; 5.3 The Aggregate Evolution of Tenure; 5.4 The Pattern of Redundancies
5.5 Female Employment, Part-Time Work and Tenure5.6 Tenure by Job Type; 5.7 Tenure by Employee Characteristics; 5.8 Younger Workers; 5.9 Summary; References; 6 Rethinking Labour Markets; 6.1 Introduction; 6.2 Employment and Two-Way Dependence; 6.3 Countermovements; 6.4 Reproductive Imperatives; 6.5 The Role of Legislation; 6.6 The Structuring of Labour Markets; 6.7 The Reserve Army; 6.8 Varieties of Self-Employment; 6.9 Summary; References; 7 An Epidemic of Insecurity?; 7.1 Introduction; 7.2 Drivers of Insecurity; 7.3 The Evolution of Job Tenure Insecurity
7.4 Acute and Generalised Job Tenure Insecurity7.5 Job Status Insecurity; 7.6 Summary; References; 8 Conclusions; 8.1 The Problems of Precarity and Insecurity; 8.2 Against the Common Sense; 8.3 The Role of Political Economy; 8.4 Precarity and the Retreat from Class; References; Appendix; References; Index
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Precarity is a key theme in political discourse, in media and academic discussions of employment, and within the labour movement. Often, the prevailing idea is of an endless march of precarity, rendering work ever more contingent and workers ever more disposable. However, this detailed study of the UK labour force challenges the picture of rising precarity and widespread use of temporary employment, suggesting instead that employment tenure and the extent of temporary work have proved stubbornly stable over the past four decades. Choonara offers a new approach to labour markets, drawing on the theoretical underpinnings of Marxist political economy to interrogate research data from the UK. This book examines why, despite the deteriorating conditions in work, employment relations have remained stable, and offers insight into the extent of subjective insecurity among workers. Insecurity, Precarious Work and Labour Markets will be of use to students and scholars across the sociology of work, labour economics, industrial relations and political economy.