New Capitalism? (PDF)

In this stimulating and highly original work, Kevin Doogan looks at
contemporary social transformation through the lens of the labour
market. Major themes of the day -- globalization,
technological change and the new economy, the pension and
demographic timebombs, flexibility and traditional employment
-- are all subject to critical scrutiny.

We are often told that a new global economy has emerged which
has transformed our lives. It is argued that the pace of
technological change, the mobility of multinational capital and the
privatization of the welfare state have combined to create a more
precarious world. Companies are outsourcing, jobs are migrating to
China and India, and a job for life is said to be a thing of the
past. The so-called 'new capitalism' is said to be the
result of these profound changes.

Kevin Doogan takes issue with these widely-accepted ideas and
subjects the transformation of work to detailed examination through
a comprehensive analysis of developments in Europe and North
America. He argues that precariousness is not a natural consequence
of this fast-changing world; rather, current insecurities are
manufactured, emanating from neoliberal policy and the greater
exposure of the economy to market forces.

New Capitalism? The Transformation of Work is sure to
stimulate academic debate. Kevin Doogan's account will appeal not
just to scholars, but also to upper-level students across the
social sciences, including the sociology of work, industrial
relations, globalization, economics, social policy and business
studies.