Caring for the other amidst a competitive economic environment: The case of psychosocial handicap

Abstract

Purpose

Dealing with psycho‐sociological handicaps is a hidden problem of capitalism, which targets full‐employment societies. However, taking educational and social costs into account, it is easily seen that getting rid of these fragile persons is a huge waste for a society as a whole. The aim of this paper is to sketch the possibilities of integrating the work of psycho‐sociologically handicapped as a positive outcome for both economy and society.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the case of France, the paper points out that no easy solution exists. Integration at any price may generate huge suffering; positive discrimination raises problems of justice between employees; putting these people aside from workplaces and granting them some kind of subvention, all these “solutions” have obvious drawbacks.

Findings

The paper considers the possibilities of “semi‐competitive” sectors, as they still exist in France – even tough hardly attacked by ultra‐liberal ideology – as an acceptable and balanced solution to the problem of economical and social integration of psycho‐sociological handicapped people.

Originality/value

Originality comes from the crossing of psycho‐analytic, sociologic and care literatures on a matter (psychosocial handicap) that is too seldom taken into account in business and society studies.

Citation

Fronda, Y. and Astrid Le Theule, M. (2009), "Caring for the other amidst a competitive economic environment: The case of psychosocial handicap", Society and Business Review, Vol. 4 No. 1, pp. 69-80. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465680910932487