Skip to main content

Should We Care about Part-Time Work from a Poverty Perspective? An Analysis of the EU15 Countries

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Work and Welfare in Europe ((RECOWE))

Abstract

Part-time work has become the most pervasive form of ‘non-standard’ work in Europe. In fact, it has become so prevalent in some countries that the moniker ‘non-standard’ may be well be out of place there (Schmid, 2010; Chapter 1 by Barbier). Historically one of the main functions of the ‘standard’ full-time employment relationship has been to provide an adequate living standard to the household (Bosch, 2006). Thus it is relevant to ask whether part-time work is a problematic form of non-standard employment from this perspective. While a vast amount of literature exists on part-time employment, relatively few studies have looked in any depth at part-time employment from a poverty point of view (for exceptions see Rodgers, 2003; Debels, 2008; OECD, 2010). This chapter aims at deepening our knowledge on the prevalence of in-work poverty among part-time workers, taking a comparative perspective and focusing on the EU15 countries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Airio, I. (2008) ‘Change of Norm? In-Work Poverty in a Comparative Perspective’, Studies in social security and health, Vammalan: Kela, Research Department.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aizenstadt, M. and Gal, J. (2010) Children, Gender and Families in Mediterranean Welfare States, Dordrecht: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Allaart, P. and Bellmann, L. (2007) ‘Reasons for Part-Time Work: An Empirical Analysis for Germany and The Netherlands’, International Journal of Manpower 28 (7): 557–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andreß, H.-J. and Lohmann, H. (2008) The Working Poor in Europe: Employment, Poverty and Globalization, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Anxo, D. and Boulin, J.-Y. (2006) Working Time Options over the Life Course: New Work Patterns and Company Strategies, Luxembourg: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blossfeld, H.-P. and Hakim, C. (1997) Between Equalization and Marginalization: Women Working Part-Time in Europe and the United States of America, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollé, P. (1997) ‘Part-Time Work: Solution or Trap?’ International Labour Review 136 (4), Geneva: International Labour Organisation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth, A. L. and van Ours, J. C. (2010), ‘Part-Time Jobs: What Women Want?’ IZA DP No. 4686.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosch, G. (2006) ‘Working Time and the Standard Employment Relationship’, in Boulin, J. Y., Lallement, M., Messenger J. and Michon, F. (eds) Decent Working Time: New Trends, New Issues, Geneva: International Labour Organisation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buddelmeyer, H., Mourre, G. and Ward, M. (2004), ‘The Determinants of Part-Time Work in EU Countries: Empirical Investigations with Macro-Panel Data’, IZA DP No. 1361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corak, M., Lietz, C. and Sutherland, H. (2005) ‘The Impact of Tax and Transfer Systems on Children in the European Union’, IZA DP No. 159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corral, A. and Isusi, I. (2007) Part-Time Work in Europe, Luxembourg: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crettaz, E. and Bonoli, G. (2010) ‘Why Are Some Workers Poor? The Mechanisms that Produce Working Poverty in a Comparative Perspective’, Recwowe: REC-WP 12/2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, M. (2010) ‘Families versus State and Market’, in Castles, F. G., Leibfried, S., Lewis, J., Obinger, H. and Pierson, C. (eds) The Oxford Handbook of the Welfare State, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daune-Richard, A.-M. (1998) ‘How does the ‘Societal Effect’ Shape the use of Part-Time Work in France, the UK and Sweden?’ in O’Reilly, J. and Fagan, C. (eds) Part-Time Prospects: An international comparison of part-time work in Europe, North America and the Pacific Rim, London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Henau, J., Meulders, D. and O’Dorchai, S. (2007) ‘Support for Market Care: Comparing Child Cash and Tax Benefits’, in Del Boca, D. and Wetzels, C. (eds) Social Policies, Labour Markets and Motherhood, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Debels, A. (2008) ‘Maakt een Flexibele Job Arm?’ in Vranken, J., Campaert, G., De Boyser, K., Dewilde, C. and Dierckx, D. (eds) Armoede en sociale uitsluiting. Jaarboek 2008, Leuven: Acco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delsen, L. (1995) Atypical Employment: An International Perspective. Causes, Consequences and Policy, Groningen: Wolters-Noordhoff.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeRiviere, L. (2007) ‘Have we Come a Long Way? Using the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics to Revisit the “Pin Money” Theory’, The Journal of Socio-Economics 37 (6): 2340–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Council (2002) Presidency Conclusions, Lisbon: European Council, 15th and 16th of March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagan, C., Smith, M., Anxo, D., Letablier, M.-T. and Perraudin, C. (2007) Part-Time Work in European Companies: Establishment Survey on Working Time 2004–2005, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagan, C. and Walthery, P. (2011) ‘Individual Working-Time Adjustments between Full-Time and Part-Time Working in European Firms’, Social Politics 18 (2): 269–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Kranz, D. and Rodríguez-Planas, N. (2011) ‘Unintended Effects of a Family-Friendly Law in a Segmented Labor Market’, IZA DP No. 5709.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fouarge, D. and Muffels, R. (2008) ‘Part-Time Work and Childbirth in Europe: Scarring the Career or Meeting Working-Time Preferences’, in Muffels, R. (ed) Flexibility and Employment Security in Europe, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, N., Gutiérrez, R. and Peña-Casas, R. (2011) Working Poverty in Europe: A Comparative Approach, Bakingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Frazer, H. and Marlier, E. (2010) In-work Poverty and Labour Market Segmentation in the EU: Key Lessons, Synthesis Report, EU Network of Independent Experts on Social Inclusion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gash, V. (2008) ‘Preference or constraint? Part-Time workers’ Transitions in Denmark, France and the United Kingdom’, Work, Employment & Society 22 (4): 655–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghysels, J. and Van Lancker, W. (2011) ‘The Unequal Benefits of Activation: An Analysis of the Social Distribution of Family Policy Among Families with Young Children’, Journal of European Social Policy 21 (5): 472–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ginn, J., Arber, S., Brannen, J., Dale, A., Dex, S., Elias, P., Moss, P., Pahl, J., Roberts, C. and Rubery, J. (1996) ‘Feminist Fallacies: A Reply to Hakim on Women’s Employment’, The British Journal of Sociology 47 (1): 167–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goedemé, T. (2011) ‘How much Confidence can we have in EU-SILC? Complex Sample Designs and the Standard Error of the Europe 2020 Poverty Indicators’, Social Indicators Research, 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goerne, A. (2011) ‘A Comparative Analysis of In-Work Poverty in the European Union’, in Fraser, N., Gutiérrez, R. and Peña-Casas, R. (eds) Working Poverty in Europe: A Comparative Approach, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • González, M. J. (2006) ‘Balancing Employment and Family Responsibilities in Southern Europe: Trends and Challenges for Social Policy Reform’, Revue française des affaires socials, (English edition), 1: 189–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakim, C. (1995) ‘Five Feminist Myths about Women’s Employment’, The British Journal of Sociology 46 (3): 429–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halleröd, B. and Larsson, D. (2008) ‘In-Work Poverty in a Transitional Labour Market: Sweden’, in: Andreß, H. J. and Lohmann, H. (eds) The Working Poor in Europe: Employment, Poverty and Globalization, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harkness, S., Machin, S. and Waldfogel, J. (1997) ‘Evaluating the Pin Money Hypothesis: The Relationship between Women’s Labour Market Activity, Family Income and Poverty in Britain’, Journal of Population Economics 10 (2): 137–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hedges, J. N. and Gallogly, S. J. (1977) ‘Full and Part-Time: A Review of Definitions’, Monthly Labor Review 100 (3): 21–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houseman, S. N. (2001) ‘Why Employers Use Flexible Staffing Arrangements: Evidence from an Establishment Survey’, Industrial and Labor Relations Review 55 (1): 149–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibáñez, Z. (2011) ‘Part-Time in Skilled Jobs: The Case of Teachers in the UK, Spain and the Netherlands’, in Drobnic, S. and Guillén, A. M. (eds) Work-Life Balance in Europe: The Role of Job Quality, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Immervoll, H. and Pearson, M. (2009) ‘A Good Time for Making Work Pay? Taking Stock of In-Work Benefits and Related Measures across the OECD’, IZA Policy Paper No. 3.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kalleberg A. L. (2000), ‘Nonstandard Employment Relations: Part-time, Temporary and Contract Work’, Annual Review of Sociology 26: 341–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kauhanen, M. (2008) ‘Part-Time Work and Involuntary Part-Time Work in the Private Service Sector in Finland’, Economic and Industrial Democracy 29 (2): 217–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korpi, W. (2000) ‘Faces of Inequality: Gender, Class, and Patterns of Inequalities in Different Types of Welfare States’, Social Politics. International Studies in Gender, State, and Society 7 (2): 127–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leitner, S. (2003) ‘Varieties of Familialism: The Caring Function of the Family in Comparative Perspective’, European Societies 5 (4): 353–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lohmann, H. (2008) ‘The Working Poor in European Welfare States: Empirical Evidence from a Multilevel Perspective’, in Andreß, H.-J. and Lohmann, H. (eds) The Working Poor in Europe: Employment, Poverty and Globalization, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lohmann, H. (2009) ‘Welfare States, Labour Market Institutions and the Working Poor: A Comparative Analysis of 20 European Countries’, European Sociological Review 25 (4): 489–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lohmann, H. and Marx, I. (2008) ‘The Different Faces of In-Work Poverty Across Welfare State Regimes’, in Andreß, H.-J. and Lohmann, H. (eds) The Working Poor in Europe: Employment, Poverty and Globalization, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Longford, N. T. and Nicodemo, C. (2010) ‘The Contribution of Social Transfers to the Reduction of Poverty’, IZA DP No. 5223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahon, R. (2002) ‘Child Care: Toward What Kind of “Social Europe”?’, Social Politics 9 (3): 343–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marx, I. and Nolan, B. (2013) ‘The Active Welfare State and In-Work Poverty’, in Cantillon, B. and Vandenbroucke, F. (eds) Social Investment State, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsaganis, M., Ferrera, M., Capucha, L. and Moreno, L. (2003) ‘Mending Nets in the South: Anti-Poverty Policies in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain’, Social Policy and Administration 37 (6): 639–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsaganis, M., O’Donoghue, C., Levy, H., Coromaldi, M., Mercader-Prats, M., Rodrigues, C. F., Toso, S. and Tsakloglou, P. (2006) ‘Reforming Family Transfers in Southern Europe: Is there a Role for Universal Child Benefits?’ Social Policy and Society 5 (2): 189–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naldini, M. (2003) The Family in the Mediterranean Welfare States, London: Frank Cass Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolan, B. and Marx, I. (2000) ‘Low Pay and Household Poverty’, in Gregory, M., Salverda, W. and Bazen, S. (eds) Labour Market Inequalities: Problems and Policies of Low-Wage Employment in International Perspective, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Reilly, J. and Fagan, C. (1998) (eds) Part-Time Prospects: An International Comparison of Part-Time Work in Europe, North America and the Pacific Rim, London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (1999) Employment Outlook, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2004) ‘Babies and Bosses — Reconciling Work and Family life: New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland’, (Volume 3), Paris: OECD Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2010) Employment Outlook, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2011) ‘Doing Better For Families’, Paris: OECD Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peña-Casas, R. and Ghailani, D. (2011) ‘Towards Individualizing Gender In-Work Poverty Risks’, in Fraser, N., Gutiérrez, R. and Peña-Casas, R., Working Poverty in Europe: A Comparative Approach, Bakingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peña-Casas, R. and Latta, M. (2004) Working Poor in the European Union, Luxembourg: Eurofound.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrongolo, B. (2004) ‘Gender Segregation in Employment Contracts’, European Economic Association 2 (3): 331–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfau-Effinger, B. (1998) ‘Culture or Structure as Explanations for Differences in Part-Time Work in Germany, Finland and the Netherlands?’ in O’Reilly, J. and Fagan, C. (eds) Part-Time Prospects: An International Comparison of Part-Time Work in Europe, North America and the Pacific Rim, London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plantenga, J. and Remery, C. (2009) The Provision of Childcare Services. A Comparative Review of 30 European Countries, Brussels: European Commission DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponthieux, S. (2010) ‘In-Work Poverty in the EU’, Eurostat: Methodologies and Working Papers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, J. R. (2003) ‘Are Part-Time Workers Poor?’ Australian Journal of Labour Economics 6 (1): 177–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, H., Maître, B. and Nolan, B. (2010) ‘Monitoring Poverty Trends in Ireland 2004–2007: Key Issues for Children, People of Working Age and Older People’, ESRI — Research Series, 17, Dublin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandor, E. (2011) Part-Time Work in Europe: European Company Survey 2009, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid, G. (2010) ‘Non-Standard Employment and Labour Force Participation: A Comparative View of the Recent Development in Europe’, IZA DP No. 5087.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith M., Fagan, C. and Rubery, J. (1998) ‘Where and Why is Part-Time Work Growing in Europe?’ in O’Reilly, J. and Fagan, C. (eds) Part-Time Prospects: An International Comparison of Part-Time Work in Europe, North America and the Pacific Rim, London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thurman, J. E. and Trah, G. (1990) ‘Part-Time Work in International Perspective’, International Labour Review 129 (1): 23–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tijdens, K. G. (2002) ‘Gender Roles and Labor Use Strategies: Women’s Part-Time Work in the European Union’, Feminist Economics 8 (1): 71–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson, J. (2006) ‘Women’s Work-life Balance Trajectories in the UK: Reformulating Choice and Constraint in Transitions through Part-time Work across the Life-course’, British Journal of Guidance & Counselling 348 (3): 365–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valiente, C. (2010) ‘The Erosion of “Familism” in the Spanish Welfare State: Childcare Policy Since 1975’, in: Ajzenstadt, M. and Gal, J. (eds) Children, Gender and Families in Mediterranean Welfare States, Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Bastelaer, A., Lemaître, G. and Marianna, P. (1997) ‘The Definition of Part-Time Work for the Purpose of International Comparison’, OECD Labour Market and Social Policy Occasional Papers, No. 22, Paris.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Van Lancker, W. (2011) ‘The European World of Temporary Employment: Gendered and poor?’ European Societies 14 (1): 83–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Visser, J. (2002) ‘The First Part-Time Economy in the World: a Model to be Followed?’ Journal of European Social Policy 12 (1): 23–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins, R. (2007) ‘The Consequences of Underemployment for the Underemployed’, Journal of Industrial Relations 49 (2): 247–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yerkes, M. and Visser, J. (2006) ‘Women’s Preferences or Delineated Policies? The Development or Part-Time Work in the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom’, in Boulin, J. Y., Lallement, M., Messenger, J. and Michon, F. (eds) Decent Working Time, New Trends, New Issues, Geneva: International Labour Organization.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2013 Jeroen Horemans and Ive Marx

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Horemans, J., Marx, I. (2013). Should We Care about Part-Time Work from a Poverty Perspective? An Analysis of the EU15 Countries. In: Koch, M., Fritz, M. (eds) Non-Standard Employment in Europe. Work and Welfare in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137267160_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics