Living with risk: Labour market transformation, employment policies and social reproduction in the UK

In many ways, contemporary labour market changes in the UK, the problems an d their proposed solutions encapsulate many aspects of Ulrich Beck's risk s ociety. Inequality and insecurity are increasing, leading to one-third of c hildren growing up in poverty. Current labour market, income support and ch ildcare policies tend to reinforce rather than challenge adverse aspects of the new partial and insecure forms of work. Remedial policies reflect indi vidualization and are centred on the belief that the route out of poverty l ies with 'making work pay' and by increasing the employability of those not in work. New forms of flexible working potentially provide the material fo undation for a more equal distribution of paid and unpaid work, but to be e ffective need to be situated within a framework which prioritizes greater e quality, including gender equity, in paid and unpaid work.