Introduction

We have entered a new age, we are told. Its characteristics are ill-defined, the issues at stake uncertain, but we are told it is new and that we have to go along with it. The myths put about to stir people into action are flourishing, but little serious thought is being given to the general nature of this new age or to the social risks we might have to guard against. Trenchant turns of phrase and portmanteau words seem to be sufficient. However, these new words and the old ones have many points in common. In most cases, indeed, the new terms can be obtained simply by adding the adjective ‘new’ to the old words. We used to speak of the economy and of growth; now we speak of the ‘new economy’ and the ‘new growth’. However, our vision of society continues to revolve around its economic aspects, and has growth as its central aim. Technological progress used to be the tool of industrial growth; the ‘new technologies’ are now the new tool of the new growth. We used to speak of the market economy, and we still do: that at least has no need of updating. It simply needs to be extended to new sectors and new lands; this can be achieved by implementing the new technologies and ‘deregulating’ those sectors that are dragging their heels. We

used to have freedom of labour, with the labour force regarded as a mobile commodity to be traded in the market. Now we have labour flexibility, also demanded in the name of economic efficiency.