The triple embedding

To create good working habitats, I propose a triple embedding—bringing public policies, firm-level organization, and individual capabilities into coherence so they can reinforce one another. A more horizontal, egalitarian sphere of work—and a more humane capitalism—could form the foundation for livable and productive environments for all.

Reducing inequalities would mean weaker incentives for destructive competition. People could survive, and even thrive, at reasonable standards without an extreme concentration of advantage. Good institutions are key. Built and maintained through adaptation, they enable conditions where people can work and live well—with as much freedom as possible. They are essential for creating working habitats that are both productive and humane.

The role of public policy in shaping work

Public policies can help chart pathways toward more habitable forms of work—especially work that is non-routine and uniquely human. These policies define outer boundaries, shape power dynamics, and support access to employment. They help ensure income security, foster human capital, and enhance individual bargaining power. This benefits not just select groups, but society as a whole.

While policy cannot control every detail of how work evolves, it can provide essential infrastructure—dykes and dams that shape the flow without blocking it. Good policy is, in itself, a productive factor—supporting wages, social benefits, education, lifelong learning, and mechanisms for participation. All of this helps reduce hierarchy and foster more egalitarian labor relations.

Firms as collaborative workspaces

In the best-case scenario, companies become places of collaborative, joint productive work. This means fewer management layers, less rigid control, and more cooperation among equals. While such settings demand strong self-management and individual initiative, they also allow for diversity, creativity, and meaningful participation.

However, this model only works if the necessary skills and capital are widely distributed—not confined to a privileged few. The effort is still real, but work feels less superfluous or absurd. Instead of being extended unnecessarily, it becomes more purposeful.

Human capitalism and the boundary of work

In the era of “human capitalism,” everyone becomes a kind of human capitalist—whether they like the term or not. This system depends on expertise, self-organization, and the ability to cooperate and adapt. It also requires awareness of the boundary between work and its “hinterland”—the essential non-work sphere that sustains us.

Maintaining some distance from the constant demands of work helps preserve mental well-being. People have a remarkable capacity to not just endure difficult conditions, but to shape them, to craft their jobs, and to manage boundaries—especially when supported by a conducive overall environment.