Political and Social Policies for Valued Labour

Abstract

The problems of Britain’s labour markets, the skill shortages, recruitment difficulties, the discrimination, have deep roots in history. Tracing these roots has led further and further into the social relations of Britain, and into the evolution of cultural conditions. At first sight these essentially economic problems seemed bad enough, but looked at economically they could be seen as small ripples on the calm surface of orthodox labour market theory. As their fuller nature was theoretically brought to light they suggested that the social economy of Britain is confronted by a contradiction which can only be developed through social and political action.