EXPLORING GLOBAL PROBLEMS PODCAST
The university’s podcast series explains how our academics are using their ground breaking research to tackle a variety of global challenges
THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN MONEY: HOW DO WE MEASURE HAPPINESS? Dr Simon Rudkin, Senior Lecturer in Economics
Professor Geraint Harvey, Professor in Business THINK YOU KNOW THE BENEFITS TO THE GIG ECONOMY? THINK AGAIN.
Is exploitative work becoming the new normal? Does the world of work have to be this way? Professor Geraint Harvey deliberates new forms of work, what they look like and how they impact the worker. Professor Geraint Harvey is Director of the Centre for People and Organisations at the School of Management. His research interests lie in changes to the employment relationship and in particular the way in which employment contracts are being replaced by commercial contracts. In many instances people do exactly what they would do as an employee, but are defined as self-employed workers who therefore have less security and don’t receive benefits such as holiday and sickness pay, and pension contribution from the organisation. These people are defined as the bogus (false or synthetic) self-employed. We have seen an increase in work in what has become known as the gig economy, where there aren’t secure long term jobs, but discrete opportunities for workers to earn money for work.
From supermarkets to high speed trains, politics to lottery tickets; economics is embedded in all that we do. It isn’t just about maths and money, it’s about how everything is interconnected and human behaviour plays a big part - our happiness in our choices is paramount. Dr Simon Rudkin explains the decision making process behind buying a lottery ticket and how scrutinising big data informs policy making for social welfare. Simon’s research continues to make an impact and brings the best of economics together with the best of other disciplines such as computer science. He explores how economists can cast light on vital societal issues and contribute to policy making. Moreover, Simon encourages everyone to express everything on scales: the idea that nothing is at the extremes, but we need to argue and evaluate where we are in between the extreme points. In other words, nothing is as clear as left/right; correct/wrong; yes/ no.
To hear more from Professor Harvey on GIG economy, scan the QR code or visit: swansea.ac.uk/som/research
To hear more from Dr Rudkin on how big data informs policy, scan the QR code or visit: swansea.ac.uk/som/research
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