The Individualized and Fluid Labor Market in the Monadic Society

Abstract

The paper analyzes the structure of the labor market in the monadic society, maintaining that some kind of redistribution is needed for securing smooth adjustment, and that redistribution should be based on the principle of “merit-free egalitarianism”. The term “monadic society” represents a new stage in the history of civil society from around the 1990s. In this society a new type of social policy is emerging. It is based on the principle of merit-free egalitarianism, which is different from the 20^th century principle of merit-based egalitarianism. Labor markets had been regulated on the principle of merit-based egalitarianism, but this regime has become dysfunctional due to the increased fluidity of the labor market. The paper shows that this phenomena is a natural trend, and that support based on solidarity is necessary. Here, solidarity means cooperation in order to secure self-determination, and social policies are trending in this exact direction. The principle of merit-free egalitarianism should be established as a social norm to promote progress.