What's in a Name? The Rise (and Fall?) of Flexicurity

The term 'flexicurity' was coined by politicians, researchers and, most prominently, the European Commission as an encompassing labour market reform agenda for the 27 member countries of the European Union. As part of the European social model it offered an alternative to the Anglo Saxon 'flexibility of the labour market' mantra and attracted widespread attention around the world, lately also in the USA and in Australia. The recent global financial crisis, which often saw internal adjustment by shortening hours of work instead of external adjustment through lay-offs, has challenged the original concept based on easier hiring and firing coupled with sound social protection for the unemployed. Also the increasing irritation of trade unions with the term, coupled with mounting scepticism among researchers and uncertainties in support from a newly nominated EU Commission, means that the concept faces an uncertain future. However, the present widespread critique of flexicurity will probably not lead to the demise of the various policies that the term comprises, but to reinforcing internal adjustment options and supporting policies. At stake may be also a renaming of the concept.