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Moral Economy of Decent Work

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Decent Work and Economic Growth

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ((ENUNSDG))

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Moral economy focusses on the interplay between all kinds of economic practices and moral norms and values. In this way, a moral economy inspired inquiry focuses on how economic practices are shaped and constrained by moral values and norms, as well as exploring how these norms and values are influenced and changed by materialist pressures. Thereby, moral economy is an analytical framework that gives voice to critical concerns for the workings of an increasingly liberalist model of capitalism, its inherent tendencies to treat labor as a “fictitious commodity,” and the impact this has on the nature work and the well-being of individuals and wider society.

Introduction

The importance of promoting and achieving decent work across the globe is highlighted by Goal 8 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 8 aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth in combination with full employment and decent work (UN 2015). In 2015, the UN General...

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Correspondence to Knut Laaser .

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Bolton, S., Laaser, K. (2021). Moral Economy of Decent Work. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Wall, T. (eds) Decent Work and Economic Growth. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95867-5_115

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