The Social Foundations Of Industrial Power

Social research, comparison, inherent differences in educational system, occupational structure, wage structure and labour relations in France and Germany, Federal Republic, refuting economic theories that societies develop similar industrial structures as they modernise - contrasts training systems, occupational qualifications and labour mobility of manual workers and nonmanual workers; examines work organization, career patterns, skills, management, wage determination, workers representation, trade unions, labour disputes. References, statistical tables.

In light of the most severe financial crisis since the 1930s, this intelligent look at European corporate governance brings out the richness of European corporate governance systems and highlights historical weaknesses that will require further work for a sustainable corporate governance environment in the future.

"Readers of economic and political theory as well as students of economic planning will appreciate this classic, now available for the first time in English. Written eighty years ago, when Sorel became disillusioned with the official socialism of the German and French Marxist parties, this new translation presents Sorel's analysis of the rise and fall of the two great modern ideologies: socialism and liberal capitalism. At present, when the fate of both of these ideologies seems in doubt, Sorel's analysis remains particularly insightful and fresh. Sorel explains why they seem to have fallen into disrepute just as they succeeded in an almost total monopoly of power in the advanced industrial countries of the world.Sorel notes a striking parallel in the historical evolution of both bodies of thought: productivity was the foremost ideal when both movements were at their most dynamic and socially effective stage. On the other hand, they were at their most decadent state when they no longer separated themselves from politics and embraced the ideals of social unity. This work is an attack on the time-honored notion of community solidarity whose Platonic and Aristotelian versions find their contemporary counterparts in notions of natural sociability and political obligation. This work anticipates much of the thinking that lies behind Sorel's famous Reflections on Violence and clearly expresses the moral basis of that work, as well as present tendencies in normative and empirical political thought."

France is unique in the world in the degree to which is has tried to integrate technical and vocational training in its schools. Day (history, Simon Fraser U.) examines this reform in France since the late-nineteenth century, within the broader context of educational development and economic modernization. His analysis demonstrates ways in which government and industry have redefined skill requirements, reformed schools and programs, and established new forms of cooperation--work-study, continuing education, apprenticeship programs--to produce a well-educated and well-trained citizenry and workforce. c. Book News Inc.

Global pressures present similar challenges to companies in different countries, but how those organizations deal with them depends on the social and institutional framework in which they develop and operate. In this book, leading academics explore and explain variations in governance systems, focusing in particular on European trends. In Governance at Work: The Social Regulation of Economic Relations the authors ask: · Are structures of work and business organization changing? Are we seeing a move away from large-scale (Fordist) mass-production systems that have dominated the industrialized world in the 20th century? · What are the local/national determinants of business organization? · Can we speak of different national business systems if so, how do these interact with the operations of international companies in global competition?

Retail is now the largest employer in the United States. For the most part, retail jobs are “bad jobs” characterized by low wages, unpredictable work schedules, and few opportunities for advancement. However, labor experts Françoise Carré and Chris Tilly show that these conditions are not inevitable. In Where Bad Jobs Are Better, they investigate retail work across different industries and seven countries to demonstrate that better retail jobs are not just possible, but already exist. By carefully analyzing the factors that lead to more desirable retail jobs, Where Bad Jobs Are Better charts a path to improving job quality for all low-wage jobs. In surveying retail work across the United States, Carré and Tilly find that the majority of retail workers receive low pay and nearly half work part-time, which contributes to high turnover and low productivity. Jobs staffed predominantly by women, such as grocery store cashiers, pay even less than retail jobs in male-dominated fields, such as consumer electronics. Yet, when comparing these jobs to similar positions in Western Europe, Carré and Tilly find surprising differences. In France, though supermarket cashiers perform essentially the same work as cashiers in the United States, they receive higher pay, are mostly full-time, and experience lower turnover and higher productivity. And unlike the United States, where many retail employees are subject to unpredictable schedules, in Germany, retailers are required by law to provide their employees notice of work schedules six months in advance. The authors show that disparities in job quality are largely the result of differing social norms and national institutions. For instance, weak labor regulations and the decline of unions in the United States have enabled retailers to cut labor costs aggressively in ways that depress wages and discourage full-time work. On the other hand, higher minimum wages, greater government regulation of work schedules, and stronger collective bargaining through unions and works councils have improved the quality of retail jobs in Europe. As retail and service work continue to expand, American employers and policymakers will have to decide the extent to which these jobs will be good or bad. Where Bad Jobs Are Better shows how stronger rules and regulations can improve the lives of retail workers and boost the quality of low-wage jobs across the board.

This volume contains six papers on important issues in the field of human resources management, continuing the tradition of the series to develop a more informed understanding of the field. These papers represent excellent scholarship, illustrating the truly interdisciplinary character of the field.

Formal adult education definitely exists as a phenomenon, yet few researchers have tried to explain it. Contrary to non-formal educational courses, the 'social charter' of formal adult education allows an adult learner to become eligible for taking steps upwards on educational and career ladders. Anchored in organizational institutionalism and based on empirical studies in 12 European countries conducted within a large-scale research project within the Sixth EU Framework Program (LLL2010), this book explores the link between individual participation, educational provision, and employers' responses to provide the institutional basis for fulfilling one central promise of lifelong learning: support for social mobility. However, societies differ widely in how they institutionalize formal adult education. Taking Steps clarifies the concept's origin. The book develops a theory on and a typology of formal adult education, discusses individual participation patterns, and considers formal adult education's role within companies' training cultures. Finally, it explores opportunity structures for formal adult education in the US, Great Britain, Germany, Austria, France, and Japan. (Series: Studies in Lifelong Learning - Vol. 5)