IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/ecoind/v35y2014i2p341-366.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Declining autonomy at work in the EU and its effect on civic behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Helena Lopes

    (Dinâmia’CET–ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Sérgio Lagoa

    (Dinâmia’CET–ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Teresa Calapez

    (BRU-IUL, ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to show that social benefits may accrue from work environments that support autonomous forms of work. Based on social psychology, economics and philosophy approaches, the authors argue that autonomy is a basic human need which, when satisfied, enhances civic behavior. Using individual data from the EWCS, the article finds evidence of the positive effect of work autonomy on volunteer work and political/trade union activities. Overall, work autonomy has decreased over the last 15 years for all skill levels in the EU, though there are substantial differences between countries. Organizational practices that promote autonomy should be deliberately stimulated if civic participation is to be furthered.

Suggested Citation

  • Helena Lopes & Sérgio Lagoa & Teresa Calapez, 2014. "Declining autonomy at work in the EU and its effect on civic behavior," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 35(2), pages 341-366, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:35:y:2014:i:2:p:341-366
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X13484606
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0143831X13484606
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0143831X13484606?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:35:y:2014:i:2:p:341-366. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.ekhist.uu.se/english.htm .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.