2: Definitions, Measurements and EU Empirical Analysis

Following the end of the mass industrial production, towards the dusk of the twentieth century, western countries have experienced a steady decomposition of the employment relationship. Up to that point, the so-called Fordist Standard Employment model overruled, providing workers a full-time job, typically a 40-hour, during weekdays, open-ended contract. Although such an employment relationship had its drawbacks, among others, in terms of working conditions and quality of work (e.g. limited autonomy, task repetitiveness, direct supervision etc.), it was offering workers stable employment, securing them from uncertainty and the risk of job loss. In particular, the standard employment relationship intended to (1) safeguard workers from economic and social risks, (2) minimise social inequality and (3) boost economic efficiency (Bosch, 2004). The realisation of these three objectives enabled finding the middle ground between the interests of employers, employees and the society.