Erfordert die Informationsgesellschaftflexiblere Arbeitsmärkte?

It is widely believed that the Information Society and its economic counterpart, the New Economy, afford more flexibility especially in the labour market (i.e. less long‐term contracts) to allow faster reactions to the increased speed of change. The paper argues that increased complexity rather than faster change is the real problem. Dealing with complexity affords adaptability and organisational learning. Short‐term flexibility, however, is detrimental to adaptability and learning as it hinders the accumulation of firm‐specific capabilities – and, consequently, of country‐specific ones at the macro level. The ability of the firm to absorb and act upon knowledge depends to a large extent on staff continuity and motivation.