Methods

The main research instrument will be a representative sample survey, to be carried out in the first year in each of the partner countries. From this survey, it will be possible to consider the actual behaviour of households in the target countries and how far these are shaped by different policies and regulations. The survey considers the activities of all household members, although that of the main respondent is considered in most detail. It asks about a variety of types of work: domestic, informal, casual and voluntary, as well as about formal employment. The survey also considers the attitudes and values of the respondents with regard to work. This survey will be analysed and the results disseminated first at a national level in the respective countries and then the results will be analysed in comparative perspective to provide an international overview.

A second research instrument will be the collection of labour markets statistics and regulations for each country in order to understand the context within which the survey is set. This will include demographic data, labour market trends and labour market regulations and social policies for the family. The results will be first collected and analysed at a national level and then on a comparative basis.

The third main research instrument will be the collection of data about the flexibilisation debate in each country in order to understand the cultural and political context of the data described above and in order to ascertain the different meanings of flexibilisation.

The whole project will result in a series of papers at both national level and at a comparative level and in the construction of a data base of results which can be disseminated through national data archives and through this home page. Results will be posted here as they become available in the form of working papers, publications and brief summaries of main findings.