The New Serfdom examines why, in one of the most successful nations in the world, so many people feel left behind and no longer believe that politics can provide solutions to their problems. It argues that the old assumption that if you work hard and play by the rules you can get on in life increasingly looks like a cruel joke. Home ownership, secure employment, real wages and confidence in the system are on the decline. Rising inequality, underemployment, exploitative employment practices and a failure to invest in lifelong education are creating a `new serfdom'. At a time when our social and political institutions appear to be misfiring and on the brink of collapse, this powerful new book will look at what needs to change to build a competitive economy, powered by a fulfilled, happy and productive citizenry for the twenty-first century and beyond.