Flexicurity: how can it be conceptualised and measured in a comparative perspective?

Ton Wilthagen, Flexicurity Research Programme

Ruud Muffels, Department of Sociology

Tilburg University, the Netherlands

www.tilburguniversity.nl/flexicurity

Flexicurity: high on the policy and academic agenda

The Danish golden triangle – a hit record!

‘Golden triangle' is the latest track released as a single from the album ‘Will see you now‘ by Brighton electro-beats types Caged Baby

Outline of this presentation

1. Views on flexicurity

2. Main concerns for policy-makers and academics

3. Research designs and availability of data

4. Current research focus on flexicurity

5. A comparative and longitudinal approach

Views on flexicurity

• Normative or empirically-oriented concept?

• Flexicurity as a “state of affairs” or as a type of policy?

• If “state of affairs” then flexicurity policies are not necessarily in place

• If flexicurity policies then “state of affairs” may be reached or not (yet)

• Two main strategies: normalization of atypical/flexible work (Netherlands) vs. flexibilization of normal/typical work (Denmark)

Main concerns for researchers and policy-makers• What is flexicurity (exactly)? Definition of

concept, operationalization, indicators etc

• How can flexicurity be pursued and promoted? What are critical (pre)conditions? Need to change psychological and social contract?

• What are the effects of flexicurity policies or systems, flexicurity for whom? Winners and losers.

• Can flexicurity policies/models be ‘transplanted’ to other countries, can countries learn from each other?

• Are there various roads towards flexicurity, flexicurity for all countries? Country size, impact of economic situation, business cycle, macro economic factors

Research designs and availability of data

• Do we have enough data for country-comparisons? Too many countries are insufficiently represented

• Longitudinal data, e.g. for life course approach, are only now being collected and developed

• Social partners and states are important but research should also focus on markets, firm, networks in contributing to flexicurity

• Not enough attention paid to informal systems of flexibility and security.How does informal economy relate to formal economy?

• Theories on flexicurity should be further developed: reflexive labour law, actor-centered institutionalism

• More attention to relationship between inclusion and exclusion in view of flexicurity systems

Figure: Coordination mechanisms and the provision of flexibility and security

Coordinatio

n

mechanism

Associations

social partners

collective

agreements

Networks

of firms, clients,

suppliers etc

Hierarchies

(individual)

firms

State

at various levels

Markets

including

submarkets

Crucial

condition

for

Mechanism

Mutual trust Mutual interests Reflexivity/

good

employership

Legitimacy

and

enforceability

Scarcity

and

information

Type of

flexibility

Provided

- Wage

- Functional

- External - Functional

- Internal

- External

- Internal

- External

- Internal

- Wage

Type of

security

provided

- Job

- Employment

- Combination

- Employment - Job

- Combination

- Job

- Income

- Combination

- Job

- Employment

- Combination

Current research focus on flexicurity

Aspect team

Policies and preconditions of flexicurity TAGC

Criticial conditions Danish case CARMA, FAOS

Performance of flexicurity systems/regimes WSI, Tilburg, ETUI

Security aspects of flexible work NiederR, WSI, TAGC

Flexicurity across life-course Tilburg, NiederR

Flexicurity in Eastern/Mid EU Tartu, ILO

Application of flexicurity in restructuring LENTIC, Tilburg

Flexicurity older workers Amsterdam/CARMA

Flexicurity new industries Tilburg, LENTIC

Legal aspects/European policy Amsterdam/Tilburg/Maastricht

Principles, concepts, checklists CARMA, Tilburg, CoE, Tartu

TAGC=Tilburg, Amsterdam, Groningen, CARMA team

A grand scheme on flexicurity and its conditions? (too complicated for slide)

regimes

countries

use of

coordination

mechanisms

reliance on

forms of

flexibility

combination with

forms of security

[basic levels] [econ. tide?] [sense of urgency] [architects]

Danish Golden Triangle

Flexible labour market

Generous welfare schemes Active labour

market policy

Main axis

Qualification effect

Motivational effect

Silver Square or Trust Square

FlexibilityActivation policies

Employment security

Social security

Main axis: trust and support

Motivation

Qualification

Active safety net/trampoline

What should be the focus of our policies? Flexicurity policies

security

flexibility

jobsecurity

employment security

Incomesecurity

combinationsecurity

external-numerical

flexibility

Make transitions pay

internal-numerical

flexibility

Optimalize working-time policies

functional

flexibility

Make employabilitywork

flexible or

variable pay

Relate wages to company performance

What should be the focus of our policies? (2)

Make employability work:

Stimulate regional cooperation and coordination among companies, schools and labour market intermediairs

Facilitate training for workers aimed at job outside own company, sector of industry or profession

Improve career guidance structures Proposal: create a “right to career

guidance” (cp. suggestion Luc Sels)