Labour markets influence the way we produce and consume, thus playing an important role for both human wellbeing and the environment. Implementing labour market changes could help fulfil people’s needs within planetary boundaries. This would require an integrated understanding of social-ecological issues. However, despite the EU just transition’s aim to address the social impacts of environmental policies, efforts to create a greener and more equal society are often fragmented.
To enable a more preventive approach that adequately tackles the interactions of social and ecological challenges, the debate on sustainable welfare has advocated for integrated, eco-social policies. This CEPS In-Depth Analysis report explores the potential of three different policies to create more sustainable labour markets that enhance human wellbeing within planetary boundaries: Working Time Reduction, Universal Basic Income and Universal Basic Services.
Combining desk research with an expert focus group, the report finds that eco-social policies could have the large potential to lead to beneficial outcomes in both environmental and social areas. Yet these benefits depend on the specific policies, their design and how they are combined with each other. For example, there were doubts about the feasibility and desirability of Universal Basic Income but more agreement on the advantages of Working Time Reduction and Universal Basic Services. Overall, the findings suggest the need for further research into their specific consumption-related effects and potential policy design.
About the authors:
Patricia Urban is a Researcher in the Energy, Resources and Climate Change unit at CEPS.
Francesca Chapman is an Associate Research Assistant in the Energy, Resources and Climate Change (ERCC) Unit at CEPS.
Vasileios Rizos is a Senior Research Fellow, heading the Energy, Resources and Climate Change Unit and he is also Head of Sustainable Resources and Circular Economy at CEPS.