1. The Transformation of Work Time in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Russia.
- Author
-
Glass, Christy
- Subjects
WORKING hours ,SOCIAL impact ,SOCIALISM ,SOCIAL change ,ECONOMIC structure ,MARKET capitalization - Abstract
Scholars of work have begun to acknowledge a major transformation in work time in advanced capitalist societies due to the weakening of trade unions and collective bargaining, the rise of the service economy, and increased global competition. This paper analyzes the reorganization of work time during the transition from state socialism to market capitalism in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia. How are work schedules being transformed during the transition and which workers have been most affected these changes? I argue that former-state socialist societies present an ideal quasi-experiment for analyzing the consequences of capitalist development, increased competition, and the introduction of flexible production practices on work schedules. The analysis relies on data from two cross-country surveys conducted in East Central Europe and Russia. Both data sets include nationally representative samples of individuals from Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia in 1993 and 2000. I find that between 1988 and 1993, the region witnessed a slight increase of reduced-hours jobs among women workers and a dramatic increase of extended-hours jobs among male workers. By 2000, we observe some degree of restandardization of work hours with male workers still working considerably longer hours than female workers. The paper considers the short and long-term consequences of these changes. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2006