The Forschungs- und Beratungsstelle Arbeitswelt (FORBA) is an independent research institute specialising in social-science research on work and employment. The institute is interdisciplinary and international in character, looking back on long-term cooperation with researchers in the EU and overseas. In terms of their training and background, FORBA's academic staff cover sociology, political science, business administration and computer science, with research activities at the institute centring on both basic and applied research in these areas. Knowledge transfer aimed at translating research findings into social practice forms an integral part of the institute' s activities. FORBA wants to add to the knowledge available on work and employment and to provide policy advice with the aim of contributing to better working conditions.

Good jobs for good services?
The impact of privatisation of public services on employment, productivity and service quality

International conference, 24 April 2009, Vienna, Austria

Organised by FORBA within the framework of the EU-funded PIQUE project in cooperation with the Vienna Chamber of Labour and a number of Austrian trade unions, the conference focuses on the consequences of public-secotr liberalisation and privatisation, with special emphasis on the electricity, postal services, local public transport and hospital sectors.
Further information: http://www.pique.at/conference

New projects

For an overview of FORBA projects, see Research-Research areas or the List of all FORBA research projects.

New publications

Books

  • Hermann, Christoph, Atzmüller, Roland (Hg.) (2009): Die Dynamik des "österreichischen Modells". Brüche und Kontinuitäten im Beschäftigungs- und Sozialsystem, edition sigma, Berlin
  • Flecker, Jörg, Hermann, Christoph, Verhoest, Koen, Van Gyes, Guy, Vael, Thomas, Vandekerckhove, Sem, Jefferys, Steve, Pond, Richard, Kilicaslan, Yilmaz, Cevat Tasiran, Ali, Kozek, Wieslawa, Radzka, Beata, Brandt, Torsten, Schulten, Thorsten (2009): Privatisation of Public Services and the Impact on Quality, Employment and Productivity (PIQUE), Vienna
  • Flecker, Jörg, Holtgrewe, Ursula, Schönauer, Annika, Gavroglu, Stavros (2009): Value chain restucturing and company strategies to reach flexibility, HIVA, Leuven
  • Frangakis, Marica, Hermann, Christoph, Loran, Karoly, Huffschmid, Jörg (Hg.) (2009): Privatisation Against the European Social Model. A Critique of European Policies and Proposals for Alternatives, Palgrave Macmillan, Houndsmills/Basingstoke/Hampshire
  • Manfred Krenn, Jörg Flecker, Hubert Eichmann, Ulrike Papouschek (2010): "... was willst du viel mitbestimmen?" Flexible Arbeit und Partizipationschancen in IT-Dienstleistungen und mobiler Pflege; FORBA-Forschung Bd. 5, edition sigma, Berlin

FORBA Research Reports

  • Papouschek, Ulrike, Haidinger, Bettina, Schönauer, Annika (2009): Koppelung von Wirtschaftsförderung und öffentlicher Auftragsvergabe an betriebliche Gleichstellungsmaßnahmen; FORBA Forschungsbericht 10/2009, Wien
  • Flecker, Jörg, Holtgrewe, Ursula, Schönauer, Annika (FORBA), Gavroglou, Stavros (KEKMOKOP) (2009): Value chain restructuring and company strategies to reach flexibility; FORBA Research Report 13/2009

FORBA Discussion Papers

  • Hermann, Christoph, Mahnkopf, Birgit (2009): Vergangenheit und Zukunft des Europäischen Sozialmodells; FORBA-Schriftenreihe 2/2009, Wien
  • Ulrike, Papouschek, Bettina, Haidinger, Annika, Schönauer (2009): Koppelung von Wirtschaftsförderung und öffentlicher Auftragsvergabe an betriebliche Gleichstellungsmaßnahmen; FORBA-Schriftenreihe 3/2009, Wien