The Meaning of Economy in the Context of Work

Ce que l'économie fait au travail

Olivier Cousin ()
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Olivier Cousin: CED - Centre Émile Durkheim - IEP Bordeaux - Sciences Po Bordeaux - Institut d'études politiques de Bordeaux - UB - Université de Bordeaux - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: How do actors in the context of their work define and perceive economy and efficiency measures and the role these play in their relation to work? Economy and efficiency measures can be considered as variables which are part of the work task, as are rules and norms, references to knowledge and processes, and laws or ethical codes. In most instances, the reference to efficiency is evaluated from a critical point of view: cost management, delivery dates, control by management are all elements which act as constraints and may in the last resort mean contravening the proper procedures. In these instances, economy measures tarnish the image of work and appear as all-powerful. However, in the course of work, given their reversible nature, they may also assume two other forms: they afford a leeway for action and liberty and they also play a role of closure, enabling the task to be ended and to be set in a context of social reality by conferring on the task a dimension of social utility.

Keywords: calculation; economy-efficiency; management tools; relation to work; engineers/technicians; hospital; calcul; économie/efficience; outils-dispositif de gestion; rapport au travail; ingénieurs/techniciens; hôpital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02091743v1
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Published in Socio - La nouvelle revue des sciences sociales, 2016, 7, ⟨10.4000/socio.2543⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02091743

DOI: 10.4000/socio.2543

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