JOBS - NEW CHALLENGES, NEW RESPONSES

Labor markets are central to economic life. They shape the organizatio n of work and the lives of those who work or need work. Recent experie nce confirms a systemic tilt in favor of employers' needs and interest s at the expense of earnings, job security, and opportunities for new entrants to the labor force. Conservative ideology has been effectivel y linked to employers' interests. The result has been that public poli cies of demonstrated effectiveness in assuring a better balance in lab or markets have been weakened. Changing labor market conditions will r equire renewal and redesign of these tested remedies and development o f new measures adequate to respond to new conditions in the global eco nomy and in labor markets. Among these the most important will be redu ced working time, limits on freedom to invest or disinvest capital, st ronger community-based power to share in the decision-making process a nd in the distribution of costs and benefits, and a new synthesis of p aid work, work that is important to society, and leisure. These are sp ecified and discussed.