Knowledge economy and knowledge work. Between the uncertainty of the definitions and the relevance in public discourse

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
Author/s Sandro Busso
Publishing Year 2013 Issue 2013/129 Language Italian
Pages 18 P. 100-117 File size 244 KB
DOI 10.3280/SL2013-129007
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In the analysis of the post-fordist society, the knowledge economy and knowledge work have a central place and deserve therefore special attention. These concepts play a key role in the public and political discourse, although their growing success and popularity come along with a lack of precise and agreed definitions or measurements. Starting from this tension, this article analyses the complex process of classification and measurement creation for both knowledge economy and work, and focuses on the conceptual aspects of the definitions as well as on the empirically based models. Conclusive considerations will then return on the relation between analytical categories and public discourse, arguing that also the uncertainty of definitions may play a strategic role in legitimising political positions.

Keywords: Knowledge economy, Knowledge work, Post-Fordism, Definitions, Measurements, Public Discourse

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    DOI: 10.3280/SL2014-133014

Sandro Busso, Economia e lavoro della conoscenza. Tra l’incertezza delle definizioni e la rilevanza nel discorso pubblico in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO " 129/2013, pp 100-117, DOI: 10.3280/SL2013-129007