Solidarity, competitiveness and ethical reflexivity in the new economy and social economy’s contexts

Abstract

This article discusses the ethical implications of the new economy and social economy labor market’s insertion. The usual analyses of the social and economical context oppose solidarity/associability to competitiveness/individualism. In order to question this supposed opposition, we investigated how the concept of solidarity is understood by 40 young workers divided in two groups: 20 workers employed in occupations associated to mobile telephone companies, informatics, internet and the bank’s sector post downsizing and 20 workers linked to social economy and associative projects. We used biographic approach’s interviews and an ethical dilemma in order to understand which events marked the young workers’ lives and have influenced the ways they are engaged in the social bond, mainly concerning work and social relationships.