Work, recognition and the market

Editorial // Jonathan Seglow, Ruth Yeoman

This issue investigates the ways in which different forms of work are recognised, misrecognised or under-recognised for the wider set of goods they produce in the contemporary market.

Recognition and the market: independence, wealth and equality

Feature // John O’Neill

The history of both socialist and liberal thought shows that issues of recognition were at the heart of arguments about the defensibility of market economies.

(How) can social and fiscal policy recognise unpaid family work?

Feature // Catherine Hakim

Until recently invisibility entailed under-valuation of the social and economic contribution of unpaid work done in households. New statistics help us identify policies that recognise and reward it.

Gender, work and ‘market’ values

Feature // Diane Perrons

Inequality has been identified as a central dimension of the crisis. By acknowledging carework as productive and an investment, societies could become more equitable, inclusive and sustainable.

Meritocracy and market over-recognition

Feature // Jonathan Aldred

High rates of pay are hard to justify and harmful to economy and society in various ways. We face a problem of over-recognition of the contribution of some workers.

‘Hired hubbies’ and ‘mobile mums’

Feature // Rosie Cox

The low status of housework is both cause and effect of its association with women. This has consequences for domestic workers’ pay and conditions and for all women, whatever they do.

Indenture: labour for miserable reward, a fifth of all households

Feature // Danny Dorling

Rising inequality is the cause of rising indenture. It has been sustained and quietly justified by a rise in prejudice. Who laboured for miserable reward to make your life easier today?

From doldrums to Downing Street

Commentary // Tim Bale

Cameron and co. freely admit they learned many lessons from Labour’s journey from doldrums to Downing Street. Labour should think seriously about returning the compliment.

Osbornomics

Commentary // Howard Reed

After a full term Conservative government, Britain would have poorer quality public services, more inequality, and more economic instability. Osborne looks set to repeat the mistakes of 1979-1997.

Beware the Canadian fiscal model

Commentary // Andrew Jackson

Canada’s experience holds lessons for others - that deep fiscal restraint is hugely damaging to the well-being of working families, and that better alternatives exist.

The new ‘champion of progressive ideals’?

Commentary // Ruth Lister, Fran Bennett

Despite the Tories’ newfound concern about poverty and inequality, anyone living in poverty, or committed to its eradication, should think twice before voting for them.

Parenting and inequality

Commentary // Tim Horton, Ollie Haydon-Mulligan

The true implication of parenting research is: until the Conservatives learn to love income redistribution, they will be weak on family values.

Responding to the Conservatives

Commentary // David Coates

The direction in which public policy needs to move, and the direction in which the Conservatives if elected will choose to move it, are diametrically opposed.

Market values and the citizen-state relationship

Essay // Selina Chen

New Labour reforms have pointedly ignored the importance of institutional ethos, and the ways that this impacts upon the civic relationship.

What’s next for European social democracy?

Notebook // Henning Meyer, Karl-Heinz Spiegel

The Good Society Debate brought together an unprecedented number and variety of discussants to debate the future of European social democracy.

The new world of work

Review // Nicola Smith

Is there a long-term trend towards greater job insecurity across developed economies?

Natasha Walter: Living Dolls

Review // Anna-Helga Horrox

It is important to recognise the power of capitalism in shaping gendered ideals.

Loic Wacquant: Punishing the Poor

Review // Richard Garside

Criminal justice and social security are interlocking means of regulating populations.

Mark Perryman: Breaking Up Britain

Review // Richard Weight

Future directions for the peoples of Britain, from re-constitution to amicable separation.