Expanding social actor-based explanations in labour market dualisation research. A combined macro-micro and micro-macro approach
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-12-2016-0239 |
| Date | 02 January 2018 |
| Pages | 75-88 |
| Published date | 02 January 2018 |
| Author | Valeria Pulignano,Nadja Doerflinger |
| Subject Matter | HR & organizational behaviour,Industrial/labour relations,Employment law |
Expanding social actor-based
explanations in labour market
dualisation research
A combined macro-micro and
micro-macro approach
Valeria Pulignano and Nadja Doerflinger
Centre for Sociological Research (CeSO) KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to contribute conceptually to debate on labour market dualisation by
proposing a macro-micro and micro-macro (or macro-micro-macro) analytical approach to integrate
actor-based explanations in the study of labour market dualisation.
Design/methodology/approach –This is a conceptual paper emphasising the need to combine qualitative
and quantitative data and methods in studying the nature and incidence of labour market dualisation.
Findings –To study social divides –as a manifestation of labour market dualisation and, more generally,
fragmentation –macro-micro and micro-macro (i.e. macro-micro-macro) relationships need to be established
as part of an analytical approach to studying dualisation. This implies considering macro-level institutional
and regulatory as well as micro-level workplace and organisational settings as factors in any analysis and
interpretation of the determinants of labour market dualisation, i.e. integrating the dynamics of power
and strategy as determinants of dualisation, fragmentation and more generally precariousness.
Originality/value –The paper points to the need to expand actor-based explanations within the labour
market dualisation debate, which remains overly institutionalist in its approach. The authors propose a
micro-macro-micro analytical approach as the way to systematise the study of concurrent macro-micro and
micro-macro relationships shaping social divides in labour markets.
Keywords Inequality, Labour markets, Dualisation, Power relationship, Social divides
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
Researchon dualisation, segmentation,fragmentation and precariousness pointsto increasing
divides in wages, working conditions and the quality of jobs (e.g. McKay et al., 2012;
Gallie, 2007; Kalleberg, 2011). Growing divides in advanced capitalist societies provoke social
concern because of the wide-ranging implications for their economies and societies.
Theoretical discussion has captured the policies, strategies and processes affecting
labour market dualisation (e.g. Emmenegger et al., 2012; Thelen, 2014; Rueda, 2007).
These issues have often been studied at different levels: company (and/or workplace)
(e.g. Holst, 2014; Pulignano et al., 2016), industry (or sector) (e.g. Greer and Hauptmeier, 2016;
Hermann and Flecker, 2012) and country (or national) (e.g. Palier and Thelen, 2010;
Hassel, 2014). When the macro- (national and/or sectoral) and micro- (company and/or
workplace) levels are brought together, the emphasis is often on the effects of national
(and sectoral) institutional and regulatory configurations and their developments on social
actors’actions and strategies at the local (company and workplace) level. On the other hand,
when micro dynamics are examined, they are frequently studied within the broader macro
context of institutional change, and therefore understood as being driven by forms of
regulation, rather than being considered as the outcome of their interaction with existing
capitalist work and employment structures.
This leads to the risk of inflating the study of dualisation, with attempts made to
explain distinctive national institutional legacies leading to patterns of labour market
Employee Relations
Vol. 40 No. 1, 2018
pp. 75-88
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0142-5455
DOI 10.1108/ER-12-2016-0239
Received 15 December 2016
Revised 31 August 2017
Accepted 5 September 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0142-5455.htm
75
Expanding
social
actor-based
explanations
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