Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (5)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Michie, J.
Right arrow Articles by Sheehan, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Related Collections
Right arrow L22 - Firm Organization and Market Structure: [...]
Right arrow J24 - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational [...]
Right arrow O31 - Innovation and Invention: [...]
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Cambridge Journal of Economics 27:123-143 (2003)
Copyright © 2003 Cambridge Political Economy Society

Article

Labour market deregulation, ‘flexibility’ and innovation

Jonathan Michie and Maura Sheehan *

*Birkbeck College.

Address for correspondence: Professor Jonathan Michie, School of Management and Organizational Psychology, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK; email: j.michie:bbk.ac.uk

Abstract

Labour ‘flexibility’ is often portrayed as important to competitive success. Using evidence from an original survey of UK firms, this paper investigates the relationships between firms' use of, on the one hand, various flexible work practices, human resource management techniques, and industrial relations systems and, on the other hand, the innovative activities of those firms. Our results suggest that the sort of ‘low road’ labour flexibility practices encouraged by labour market deregulation—short-term and temporary contracts, a lack of employer commitment to job security, low levels of training, and so on—are negatively correlated with innovation.

Key Words: Innovation • Flexibility • Labour markets • Human resource management


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Organization StudiesHome page
S. Beugelsdijk
Strategic Human Resource Practices and Product Innovation
Organization Studies, June 1, 2008; 29(6): 821 - 847.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Cambridge J EconHome page
L. Pieroni and F. Pompei
Evaluating innovation and labour market relationships: the case of Italy
Camb. J. Econ., March 1, 2008; 32(2): 325 - 347.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Work Employment SocietyHome page
J. Bone
'The longest day': 'flexible' contracts, performance-related pay and risk shifting in the UK direct selling sector
Work Employment Society, March 1, 2006; 20(1): 109 - 127.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.