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Expanding social actor-based explanations in labour market dualisation research: A combined macro-micro and micro-macro approach

Valeria Pulignano (Centre for Sociological Research (CeSO) KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium)
Nadja Doerflinger (Centre for Sociological Research (CeSO) KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium)

Employee Relations

ISSN: 0142-5455

Article publication date: 2 January 2018

551

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute conceptually to debate on labour market dualisation by proposing a macro-micro and micro-macro (or macro-micro-macro) analytical approach to integrate actor-based explanations in the study of labour market dualisation.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper emphasising the need to combine qualitative and quantitative data and methods in studying the nature and incidence of labour market dualisation.

Findings

To study social divides – as a manifestation of labour market dualisation and, more generally, fragmentation – macro-micro and micro-macro (i.e. macro-micro-macro) relationships need to be established as part of an analytical approach to studying dualisation. This implies considering macro-level institutional and regulatory as well as micro-level workplace and organisational settings as factors in any analysis and interpretation of the determinants of labour market dualisation, i.e. integrating the dynamics of power and strategy as determinants of dualisation, fragmentation and more generally precariousness.

Originality/value

The paper points to the need to expand actor-based explanations within the labour market dualisation debate, which remains overly institutionalist in its approach. The authors propose a micro-macro-micro analytical approach as the way to systematise the study of concurrent macro-micro and micro-macro relationships shaping social divides in labour markets.

Keywords

Citation

Pulignano, V. and Doerflinger, N. (2018), "Expanding social actor-based explanations in labour market dualisation research: A combined macro-micro and micro-macro approach", Employee Relations, Vol. 40 No. 1, pp. 75-88. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-12-2016-0239

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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