The New Social Economy

As capitalism develops and state socialism disintegrates, divisions of labor are being reorganized, with major implications for the distribution of power in society. Yet the concept of division of labor has been one of the most neglected in contemporary political economy and social theory. Compared to class, gender or markets, it has typically been treated as a rather indifferent concept, part of the backdrop rather than one of the key forces of the economy and society.

Dealing with the reworking of the division of labor in both practice and theory, and transcending the narrow boundaries of academic disciplines, the authors provide a new perspective on some of the most hotly debated issues in social science.

1. Gender, Class and the Division of Labor.

2. The Brave New World of the Service Economy: The Expanding Division of Labor.

3. The Expanding Horizons of Industrial Organization.

4. New Developments in Manufacturing: The Just-in-Time System.

5. Beyond Fordism and Flexibility.

6. Capitalism, Socialism and the Social Division of Labor.

"A major work of geographic and social theory. This book is must reading for geographers, regional scientists, urban planners and all those concerned with the technological, organizational, economic, and geographic dimensions of technologically advanced societies." Professional Geographer

"An exhaustive and thoughtful approach to the theoretical dilemmas facing the field of political economy today." American Journal of Sociology

"The scope, approach and depth in this book make it essential to teachers, researchers, and advanced students in political economy, industrial sociology, economics, economic geography, industrial relations and human resource management." Labour and Industry

Andrew Sayer is Lecturer in Human Geography in the School of Social Sciences, University of Sussex.
Richard Walker is Professor of Geography, University of California, Berkeley. As capitalism develops and state socialism disintegrates, divisions of labor are being reorganized, with major implications for the distribution of power in society. Yet the concept of division of labor has been one of the most neglected in contemporary political economy and social theory. Compared to class, gender or markets, it has typically been treated as a rather indifferent concept, part of the backdrop rather than one of the key forces of the economy and society.

Dealing with the reworking of the division of labor in both practice and theory, and transcending the narrow boundaries of academic disciplines, the authors provide a new perspective on some of the most hotly debated issues in social science.