Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

65for instance, on the ‘contract’ dimension. To take one example, ‘increase in own-account selfemployment’is a problematic indicator since it can be a result <strong>of</strong> different developments andmotivations in different countries. In economically and structurally depressed countries it may bethe result <strong>of</strong> an attempt <strong>of</strong> unemployed to get back into work while in countries with high economicgrowth self-employment occurs out <strong>of</strong> a motivation <strong>of</strong> highly skilled employees to start their ownbusiness. There is also a need for an indicator that describes the current demand for specific skillsin the labour market and whether and to what extend these are supplied by the labour force, i.e. anindicator measuring the match <strong>of</strong> demand and supply <strong>of</strong> skills.These are just examples <strong>of</strong> the shortcomings resulting from data inavailability which need tobe overcome. The <strong>European</strong> Commission has started projects like SIBIS – Statistical IndicatorsBenchmarking the Information Society” - (IST-2000-26276) (www.sibis-eu.org) which has takenup the challenge <strong>of</strong> contributing to the effort by developing and testing an appropriate set <strong>of</strong> newstatistical indicators. The SIBIS ‘eEurope Indicators’ are to take account <strong>of</strong> the rapidly changingnature <strong>of</strong> modern societies and to enable the benchmarking <strong>of</strong> progress both in individual <strong>European</strong>Member States as well as <strong>of</strong> Europe as a whole. It is hoped that the results <strong>of</strong> such projects willenable us to further improve the approach and methodology presented in the present paper and givea more appropriate and differentiated view on the current situation and development <strong>of</strong> e-Work in<strong>European</strong> countries and a solid basis for an assessment <strong>of</strong> these to better inform policy decisionmakers.Notes[1] empirica (2000) ‘Telework Data Report (Population Survey) – Ten Countries in Comparison’,Project Report, URL: http://www.ecatt.com/ecatt/[2] empirica (2000) Benchmarking Telework and E-Commerce in Europe - ECaTT Final Report, Bruxelles.[3] empirica (2001) ‘Definition <strong>of</strong> Approach to Topic Research: Work, Employment and Skills’, SIBIS projectdocument, unpublished.[4] <strong>European</strong> Commission (1999) ‘The <strong>European</strong> Employment Strategy: Investing in People’, Luxembourg.[5] <strong>European</strong> Commission (2001) Employment in Europe 2000, Luxembourg.[6] Eurostat (2000) <strong>European</strong> Social Statistics – Labour Force Survey Results 1999. Luxembourg.[7] Eurostat and <strong>European</strong> Commission (2000) Living Conditions in Europe – Statistical Pocketbook.Luxembourg.[8] Gareis, K. (2001) ‘The Electronic Freelancing Economy: Myth or Reality? An Overview <strong>of</strong>Evidence’, STAR Issue Report No. 9, www.databank.it/star.[9] Gareis, K. and Kordey, N. (2000) ‘The Spread <strong>of</strong> Telework in 2005’, in Stanford-Smith, B.and Kidd, P.T. (eds.) E-business – Key Issues, Applications, Technologies, 83-90, Amsterdam et al.[10] Gasparini, G. et al. (2000) ‘Full-time or Part-time Work: Realities and Options’, <strong>European</strong>Foundation for the Improvement <strong>of</strong> Living and Working Conditions, Luxembourg.[11] H<strong>of</strong>fmann, E. and Walwei, U. (2000a) ‘Strukturwandel der Erwerbsarbeit – Was ist eigentlich‘normal’?’ IAB Kurzbericht, No.14, Nürnberg.[12] Huber, J. (1987) Telearbeit. Ein Zukunftsbild als Politikum, Opladen.[13] Huws, U. (1984) The New Homeworkers. New Technology and the Changing Location <strong>of</strong> White-collarWork, London.[14] Huws, U., Korte, W.B. and Robinson, S. (1990) Telework – Towards then Elusive Offi ce, Chichester.[15] Korte, W.B. and Wynne, R. (1996) Telework – Penetration, Potential and Practice in Europe,Amsterdam et al.[16] Nicoletti, G., Scarpetta, S. and Boylaud, O. (2000) ‘Summary Indicators <strong>of</strong> Product Market Regulation withan Extension to Employment Protection Legislation’, Contribution to Workshop on ‘Concepts andMeasurement <strong>of</strong> Labour Markets Flexibility/Adaptability Indicators’, Brussels, 26-27 October 2000.[17] Nilles, J. et al. (1976) The Telecommunications-transportation Trade<strong>of</strong>f. Options for Tomorrow, New York.[18] Reichwald, R., Möslein, K., Sachenbacher, H., Englberger, H. and Oldenburg, S. (1998) Telekooperation.Verteilte Arbeits- und Organisationsformen, Berlin et al.: Springer.