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David Spencer - Political Economy of Work, Häftad

Häftad, Engelska, 2010

Political Economy of Work

Av David Spencer

747 kr

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Beskrivning
Against the background of increasing interest in the changing nature and quality of work, The Political Economy of Work offers a new and unique assessment of the theoretical analysis of work. The author challenges some common preconceptions about work and promotes an original approach to the field, contemplating the nature and development of ideas on work and its impact on human well-being drawing on such burgeoning literatures as the 'economics of happiness'.Spencer approaches the subject through a careful examination of the history of thought on work over the last three hundred years. A key focus is the development of ideas on work in mainstream economics, starting with the mercantilists and the classical economists, and continuing with neoclassical economists (e.g. Jevons, Marshall). The contributions of modern approaches including the new 'information-theoretic' economics and the new 'economics of happiness' are also discussed. The author sees flaws in the depiction of work in mainstream economics and instead draws insight from the writings of critics of the mainstream paradigm, such as the nineteenth century 'utopian' writers (Godwin, Fourier, Carlyle, Ruskin, Morris), Marx, and the old institutional economists (Commons, Veblen). The alternative approach outlined in the book stresses the barriers to rewarding work under capitalism and develops a case for radical change in the organisation of work.The book cuts across different disciplinary boundaries and is likely to appeal to researchers in a number of different fields, including labour economics, labour history, the sociology of work, industrial relations, and human resource management. It will appeal to all those who wish to promote a more critical understanding of the role that work can and ought to play in society.
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David A. Spencer is Senior Lecturer in Economics at Leeds University Business School.

Recensioner i media

"A short review cannot do justice to the quality and the depth of this important book about how economics and its critics treat the subject of work. The basic theme is that while romantics, radicals, and revolutionaries wanted to transform the nature of work, mainstream economists treated it as nothing more than the absence of leisure. Spencer discusses the perspectives of a broad range of critics of classical political economy who emphasized that work could be enjoyable... An extraordinary amount of information is packed into this readable volume. It will be especially useful to students who want a short introduction to the attitudes toward work represented by key historical figures." M. Perelman, California State University, Chico, Choice"This book raises fundamental issues around the political economy of work. It does so through comprehensive command of, and yet judicious critical selection from, appropriate contributions from the history of economic thought and radical political economy. As such, it offers an invaluable contribution to the study of work, going beyond current alternatives in both mainstream economics and other subjects such as human resource management."Ben Fine, Professor of Economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and author of Social Capital Versus Social Theory (2001), The World of Consumption (2002) and co-author of From Political Economy to Economics (2008). "... The book challenges us to create alternative systems of production and different ways of thinking about work and will be of interest not only to economists and social scientists interested in work, but also to anyone interested challenging the scientific status-quo."Abby Shenbaum Train, New Mexico State University The Social Science Journal, 2009

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