Customer Reviews

The New Social Economy: Reworking the Division of Labor

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In this book Andrew Sayer and Richard Walker takes a fresh and critical look on the claims of a new economy and working life in contemporary society by returning to, and modifying, one of the classical concepts of social science: The division of Labour. The book contains a thorough discussion on what is actually meant with the concept division of labour, and why it is more suitable than other structural phenomenons to explain changes in working life. Apart from this, the authors discuss such topics as if we are really moving into a 'service economy' and the problems of defining what is a service and what is not. Andrew Sayer's style of writing, a critical analysis of the basic assumptions underlying commonly used concepts and arguments in social science (no doubt a herritage from his realist approach), is recognizable from his earlier writings on method (Method in Social Science-A realist Approach, Routledge). Even if you do not agree with everything Sayer and Walker writes, and the conclusions they draw from it, the book no doubt forces you to revaluate your thoughts about working life and the assumptions they lead to. And I guess that is more than you can say about most books these days...