Applying Sociological Knowledge to Produce Positive Social Change. - New Forms of Employment and the Case of Flexicurity

This paper considers flexicurity as a potential strategy to improve labour market, especially in times of economic crisis. Flexicurity is defined as a grated strategy aimed at simultaneously improving a) flexibility and security in the labour market b) social cohesion at a time of intense social changes with lack of social protection and instability c) flexible and reliable contractual arrangements (FCA) d) comprehensive lifelong learning (LLL) strategies e) effective active labour market policies (ALMP); and Modern social security systems (MSS). Thereafter, the paper presents a state of the art regarding the typologies of the flexicurity concept. Based on the state-of-the-art, and in order to explain the different levels of flexicurity strategies among EU member states, the authors suggest the criteria of examining and analysing the features of the good examples of flexibility policies at the regional and local level of EU. Based on those criteria, the authors then develop a typology of flexicurity initiatives. The specific characteristics of those initiatives are analysed. Finally, a discussion about the types of regions for application is taking place