This paper argues that in order to facilitate informed debate and to develop a coherent social and employment policy in Europe, it is necessary to clarify the different meanings of the term 'labour market flexibility'. It questions whether the deregulation of the labour market is an inherent...

Over the last ten years, the debate on labour market flexibility has increasingly become polarised between two distinctive and potentially irreconcilable viewpoints. On the one hand, concern over high levels of persistent unemployment and low levels of employment in Europe has led some to argue...