Moral Economy of Decent Work

Citation

Bolton S & Laaser K (2021) Moral Economy of Decent Work. In: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ed. Print; Online: Springer International Publishing, pp. 731-739. springer.com; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95867-5_115

Abstract
Moral economy focusses on the interplay between all kinds of economic practices and moral norms and values. In this way, a moral economy inspired inquiry focuses on how economic practices are shaped and constrained by moral values and norms, as well as exploring how these norms and values are influenced and changed by materialist pressures. Thereby, moral economy is an analytical framework that gives voice to critical concerns for the workings of an increasingly liberalist model of capitalism, its inherent tendencies to treat labor as a “fictitious commodity,” and the impact this has on the nature work and the well-being of individuals and wider society.

Keywords
Decent Work; Good Work, ILO; Moral Economy; Nature of work

People

Dr Knut Laaser

Lecturer, Management, Work and Organisation