Work in the Digital Age: Challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

How to unlock the vast economic and social potential of new technologies

Summary

Shining a light on the very different experiences of work in the digital age, this book provides a unique contribution to the reform discussion on the consequences of the fourth industrial revolution. Drawing on a wide range of international expertise, the contributors to this volume examine important policy challenges arising from the transformation of work as a result of the introduction of digital technology at work.

Authors in this volume discuss the effects of automation, platform business models, stagnating productivity, increasing regional disparities, and rising levels of inequality within and between countries. They consider how to unlock the vast economic and social potential of new technologies and the implications for policy reform to meet these challenges.

Mastering them requires developing a new inclusive narrative and progressive reform agenda. Such an agenda would be economic and political, and not determined universally by technology. The narrative is not only about what policymakers need to do, which is rather a lot. It is also about reforming established organisations and institutions, understanding new emerging players and supporting disaffected citizens in how the effects of these changes are going to affect their lives. The authors clearly pinpoint what needs to be done to support the transition to work in the digital era.

Work in the Digital Age is a superb collection of articles that together provide a wide-ranging, comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities for labour in a period of rapid technological change. This volume is essential reading for academics and policymakers alike.

Kathleen Thelen, Ford Professor of Political Science at MIT and Member of Das Progressive Zentrum’s Scientific Council

You may either download a PDF version of the book for free or purchase a hard-copy from Rowman & Littlefield for £24.95 or online-resellers for €34,95.


Authors

Dr. Max Neufeind

Policy Fellow
Max Neufeind is a Desk Officer at a federal ministry. As a Policy Fellow at Das Progressive Zentrum, he is in charge of the project DenkraumArbeit. Previously, Max worked as a Research Associate at the Center for Organizational and Occupational Sciences, ETH Zurich.
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Florian Ranft is a member of the Management Board and is head of Green New Deal & Progressive Governance at Das Progressive Zentrum.
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Jacqueline O'Reilly

Centre for Research on Management and Employment (CROME)
Professor Jacqueline O’Reilly is the head of the Centre for Research on Management and Employment (CROME) at Brighton Business School. She is currently coordinator of an EU Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7) research project on youth unemployment in Europe, entitled Strategic Transitions for Youth Labour in Europe.

Content

Summary
Authors

Dr. Max Neufeind

Policy Fellow

Florian Ranft

Member of the Management Board and Head of Green New Deal

Jacqueline O'Reilly

Centre for Research on Management and Employment (CROME)

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