[IER] Busting Business Myths: A new IER publication

Fri Aug 21 16:22:16 BST 2015

A new publication, “The Mythology of Business”, has been released by the
Institute of Employment Rights (IER). It dispels some of the myths
surrounding business and its supposed benefits. 

The publication is authored by David Whyte, Professor of Socio-legal studies
at the University of Liverpool, and released in conjunction with the Centre
for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS)

According to the author, businesses influence public policy through the use
of propaganda and dubious claims about their social contribution - claims
that have no evidential basis. This publication seeks to shed some light on
some of the myths and lies that are being used to deny workers and
communities their rights and to diminish collective bargaining power in the
workplace

David Whyte, author of the report, said “If there is one thing that business
organisations are particularly good at, it is deceiving us into thinking
that they are indispensable to a healthy and developed society. But the
social contributions that businesses make are always surrounded by
propaganda claims and myths that are swallowed too easily by politicians and
repeated ad nauseum in the press”.

The publication provides much needed counter-arguments to 10 frequently
reproduced myths; including “the Trickle Down effect”, “Red Tape is
restricting business” and “Privatisation works”. 

Commenting on the publication, John Christensen from the Tax Justice Network
said, “The Mythology of Business’ provides a short, accessible and
compelling exposé of ten of the most popular zombie myths of these times
We
have a duty to question these myths, to expose the lies that sustain them,
and to challenge the politicians and opinion-formers (including zombie
economists in academia) who mindlessly repeat these myths despite the lack
of evidence that any of them hold any meaningful truth.”

IER director Carolyn Jones said, “Too often workers’ jobs, pay and
conditions are governed by many of the myths exposed in this publication.
How many times have we heard warnings about companies leaving for cheaper
shores, or that health and safety measures have gone mad? How long must
workers wait for the promised “trickle down effect” while watching jobs
disappear and inequality increase? Each of the myths outlined in this
booklet are accompanied by  comments from trade union general secretaries
whose members experience the reality of working life under these zombie
concepts”. 

Further information about the publication is available here
<http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/mythology-business> . Books are £10 each
with a £4 discount available to trade union members, further deductions are
also available to those who order in bulk.

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/what-they-say> 

<http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/power-corporate-propaganda-review-%E2%80%98-myth
ology-business%E2%80%99#.Vcx2Tui96s0.twitter> 

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/don%E2%80%99t-believe-business-hype-0> 

<http://issuu.com/instituteofemploymentrights/docs/the_mythology_of_business
_issuu_pre_9ba9151398a5f2/1> 

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/mythology-business> 

1.       The Institute of Employment Rights is a think tank for the labour
movement and a charity. We exist to inform the debate around trade union
rights and labour law by providing information, critical analysis, and
policy ideas through our network of academics, researchers and lawyers. We
were established in February 1989 as an independent organisation to act as a
focal point for the spread of new ideas in the field of labour law

2.       The Centre for Labour and Social Studies (Class)
<http://classonline.org.uk/>  is a thinktank established in 2012 to act as a
centre for left debate and discussion. Originating in the labour movement,
Class works with a broad coalition of supporters, academics and experts to
develop and advance alternative policies.

3.       David Whyte is Professor of Socio-legal Studies at the University
of Liverpool
<http://www.liv.ac.uk/sociology-social-policy-and-criminology/staff/david-wh
yte/> . He has previously written several books on health and safety law for
the IER and is an Executive Committee member of the Institute.

4.       For further information or to arrange an interview with the author,
contact Carolyn Jones, IER Director, 07941 076245

Institute of Employment Rights

4th Floor

Jack Jones House

1 Islington

Liverpool

L3 8EG

 <mailto:beth at ier.org.uk> beth at ier.org.uk

t: 0151 207 5265   w:  <http://www.ier.org.uk> www.ier.org.uk

e:  <mailto:office at ier.org.uk> office at ier.org.uk   tw: @IERUK

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