Enterprise and Network As the Basis of Solidarity – Strong and Weak Ties in Children's Work on the Informal Economy'

Fundamental transformations in the world of work have created different opportunities for social integration depending on group membership. Furthermore these transformations have helped define the different economies that children work in. This presentation critically evaluates children’s work in the informal economy. Based on a study of 11000 children 12 to 16 years of age in New South Wales, Australia, the presentation examines, for the work children perform on the informal economy, how the particularity of relationship between employee and employer prescribes rules of conduct given the absence of other forms of social integration, such as formal regulations. It examines the extent network solidarity, and particularly reciprocity, provides a normative structure that underpins operation of the informal economy for children.

Three categories of informal work performed by young people on the informal economy are identified: enterprise workers, informal employees and associative workers. Each category of work is embedded in different social relations between ‘worker’ and ‘employer’ that represent different relationships of appropriation. These relationships of appropriation reflect latent class structures with young people from poorer backgrounds more likely to undertake work as informal employees and wealthier young people more likely to be involved in enterprise work. 

The nature of appropriation also influences intrinsic and extrinsic orientations towards work. Informal employee’ relations, predicated upon strong particularistic ties, do not evidence greater levels of intrinsic attitudes, but are least commodified. Enterprise work, predicated upon weak universal ties, is characterised by higher levels of instrumental attitudes. However young people from poorer neighbourhoods are more likely to show altruistic orientations.