The future of work

The quarter of a century after 1950 has been one of increasing prosperity for all the industrial nations. It has not been without its problems, however, both for labour and capital. The current depression has intensified them and introduced other more complex and intractable ones. The article is mainly a comparative study, both over time and location, considering briefly the appropriate remedies ¿¿ human and economic. The institutional problems of trades unions, professional bodies, educational establishments and co-operatives are analysed. The suggestions for action are tentative and piecemeal, as any study of simple solutions rigorously applied, in the past, points towards initial gains followed by subsequent disasters. A wider perspective is encouraged by a short discussion of the problems of the Third World. The survey includes suggestions for further reading.