Changing Contours of Work: Jobs and Opportunities in the New Economy, Third Edition, examines the American workplace in the larger context of an integrated global economy. Through engaging vignettes and rich data,
Stephen Sweet and
Peter Meiksins frame the development of jobs and employment opportunities in an international comparative perspective, revealing the historical transformations of work (the “old economy” and the “new economy”) and identifying the profound effects that these changes have had on lives, jobs, and life chances. It discusses the many complexities of race, class, and gender inequalities in the modern-day workplace, as well as the consequences of job insecurity and work schedules that are mismatched to family needs.
Key features: - Provides international comparative perspectives on work and work prospects throughout the text, such as specific policies already in place in Europe that can lead to improved existences for workers and their families
- Considers the structure of today’s work environment and its implications for fulfillment on and off the job
- Highlights the impact of socialization, social networks, and structural forms of discrimination
- Addresses inequalities and divides, such as race, ethnicity, gender, and class, illuminating the forces that separate workers from opportunity
