"I cynically suspect the current concept of full-time work evolved to suit employers, it allows them to manipulate and scare employees, especially when (for example) health insurance is at stake. "
Before, getting paid _daily_ was the norm. Getting money for the whole month at a time is way more predictable.
Employers typically are financially much better suited to weather out economic slumps than individuals are.
On the average, it's to the employees benefit temporary employment is not the norm.
"employers naturally have more data about salaries and so forth, in general most employers have many employees, while most employees only have one employer. That is inherently asymmetrical."
This is very true. Unions are a one such leverage balancing mechanism.
Before, getting paid _daily_ was the norm. Getting money for the whole month at a time is way more predictable.
Employers typically are financially much better suited to weather out economic slumps than individuals are.
On the average, it's to the employees benefit temporary employment is not the norm.
"employers naturally have more data about salaries and so forth, in general most employers have many employees, while most employees only have one employer. That is inherently asymmetrical."
This is very true. Unions are a one such leverage balancing mechanism.