Atypical work and social security in the contemporary economy : exploring the Dutch case

This thesis looks to uncover the preferences towards social security policies and the subjective labor market risk of two groups of precarious and atypical workers: platform workers and temporary agency workers. Previous research suggested that precarious workers experience a higher degree of labor market risk which can shape policy preferences and make precarious workers more inclined to support strong state intervention in favor of collective risk strategies. In order to analyze whether or not these two groups of atypical workers hold differences in their social security preferences, an independent data collection effort was organized. Qualitative data was gathered in forms of semi-structured interviews. The results of the paper indicate that there is a subtle difference in the opinions towards social security benefits, particularly insurance-based statutory benefits such as unemployment benefits. Furthermore, the results of the paper indicate that atypical workers seem to exhibit small but not unimportant differences in their opinions towards social security benefits.