Flexicurité et marchés transitionnels du travail : Esquisse d'une réfl exion normative

Abstract

The notion of "flexicurity" remains fnzzy and controversial. This contribution proposes to clarify it. by discussing it through the lenses of a set of analyses and proposals developed in Europe since the middle of the nineties, the Transitional Labour Markets (TLM). The first part gives a short appraisal of the main outcomes and debates brought by the TLM: they offer as a specific analytical and policy perspective focused on the " transitions" made by workers in the labour market and around it. In the second part, the author uses this point of view in order to improve the understanding of "fiexicurity" as a concept. He begins by setting the main dimensions to take iuto accouut in order to capture the relevant processes at stake. Then he presents a series of trade-oil's and complementarities. either positive or negative, which characterize "flexicurity". Last, he discusses the content of "flexicurity" policies at the European level, introducing the societal diversity of member states as well as the Union policy level.