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Free Labour and Economic Performance: Evidence from the Construction Industry

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  • Stephen Evans

    (Human Resource Management Section Cardiff Business School University of Wales CARDIFF CF1 3EU)

Abstract

This paper examines the contribution of the Conservative government's `free labour market' policies to recent productivity and economic performance, drawing on a detailed study of restructuring in the British construction industry. These policies are shown to have given a beneficial short-term boost to labour utilisation and cost reduction, which complemented improvements in managerial performance induced by more autonomous economic forces operating at sector and enterprise levels. However, by providing opportunities to casualise employment standards, deregulation relieved the pressures on firms to introduce more innovative technologies and work re-organisation. Doubt is cast on whether recent productivity gains can be sustained, and on the long-term efficacy of the government's free labour market policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Evans, 1990. "Free Labour and Economic Performance: Evidence from the Construction Industry," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 4(2), pages 239-252, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:4:y:1990:i:2:p:239-252
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter Turnbull & Syd Weston, 1993. "Co-operation or Control? Capital Restructuring and Labour Relations on the Docks," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 31(1), pages 115-134, March.

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