Social Justice and the Future of Work

ended

The aim of this project is to develop and defend a theory of justice for contemporary labour markets in the light of recent and ongoing changes in modern labour markets (in particular the rise of automation, the changing nature of the firm, and the evolution of the gig economy). These trends are receiving sustained analysis by researchers in economics, computer science, and business who tend to evaluate the labour market primarily in terms of economic efficiency. No doubt, this is one of the criteria by which we should assess labour market policies, but it is not the only one. When assessing labour markets, we must also be attentive to the distribution of the benefits and burdens of social cooperation, as well as to which rights individuals possess. I will explore these issues using the tools of normative political philosophy. In the course of this research, I will (i) develop a better understanding of how liberal egalitarian political philosophy can profitably engage with and influence the analysis of public policy, and (ii) develop my capability for engaging with findings in quantitative social science. I will do this under the supervision of Prof. Andrew Williams, who is Editor of Politics, Philosophy & Economics, and Prof. Javier Arregui, who is a specialist in European public policy. The project will be based in the Department of Law at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), which hosts an assembly of world-renowned political philosophers working on related themes. The project involves an ambitious dissemination and communication plan. In addition to several seminar presentations and deliverables, I will maintain a project website, organise an international conference, convene a panel at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, participate in workshops with Catalunya Europa and at the Bank of England, carry out an interview with the New Economics Foundation, and teach in schools.