Background
David is a sociologist specialising in the future of work and welfare. Prior to his position at Cambridge, he worked as an ethnographer in Welsh community organisations and as a Berggruen Fellow, based in the philosophy department at New York University. He is also interested in working in a policy context, and has undertaken significant work on the prospects for a basic income and a shorter working week, as an affiliate with the think-tank Autonomy.
Research interests
- The politics of automation
- ‘Post-work’ theory and work refusal
- Experiences of unemployment and precarious work
- Wellness interventions and power in organisations
- The philosophy and implementation of basic income
- The philosophy and implementation of the shorter working week
- The social organisation of care work
Research articles
Pearce, S., Blakely, H., Frayne, D., Rees-Jones, I. (2020) ‘Evaluation in reinforcing and resisting hierarchical relations between state and civil society’, Social Policy and Administration. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/spol.12668
Frayne, D. (2016) ‘Stepping Outside the Circle: The Ecological Promise of Shorter Working Hours’, Green Letters: Studies in Ecocriticism. Vol.20 (2) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14688417.2016.1160793
Books
Frayne, D. (editor) (2019) The Work Cure: Critical essays on work and wellness. Monmouth: PCCS https://www.pccs-books.co.uk/products/the-work-cure
Frayne, D. (2015) The Refusal of Work. London: Zed Books https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-refusal-of-work-9781783601172/
Policy publications
Frayne, D. and Maher, M. (2021) Jobs and health: Re-opening the debate
Frayne, D., Goodman, C., Kellam, J., Muldoon, J. and Standing, G. (2021) Piloting a basic income in Wales: Principles, precedents and feasibility https://autonomy.work/portfolio/ubi-in-wales/
Frayne, D. and Stronge, W. (eds.) (2021) A future fit for Wales: A basic income for all
Frayne, D. and Stronge, W. (eds.) (2021) A future fit for Wales: Roadmap to a shorter working week
Blogs and Media
Frayne, D. (2021) ‘Chasing boogeymen: Review essay on Jon Cruddas’ The Dignity of Labour’, Autonomy https://autonomy.work/portfolio/cruddas-review/
Frayne, D. (2020) ‘The great work disruption’, Noema, 9th July https://www.noemamag.com/the-great-work-disruption/
Frayne, D. (2019) ‘The UBI Maze: Reflections on the future of work, technology and basic income’, Autonomy https://autonomy.work/portfolio/ubimaze/
Frayne, D. and Hutchinson, E. (2019) Interview on my edited collection, The Work Cure, The Psychologist
https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-32/november-2019/forging-new-politics-work
Frayne, D. (2019) ‘The World Health Organisation recognises burnout: Solving the problem might not be a win-win’, Independent, 6th June
Frayne, D. (2019) ‘Work less, play more: Comments on Autonomy’s proposal for a shorter working week’, Red Pepper, 21st Feb https://www.redpepper.org.uk/work-less-play-more/
Frayne, D. (2018) ‘Stop repeating the mantra that “work is good for you”’, New Statesman, 30th Nov
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2018/11/stop-repeating-mantra-work-good-you
Frayne, D. (2018) ‘Framing the Future: Review essay on James Chamberlain’s Undoing Work, Rethinking Community’, Autonomy, 25th Oct
https://autonomy.work/portfolio/undoing-work-rethinking-community-review-by-david-frayne/
Frayne, D. and Mergner, L. (2016) ‘The Work Dogma: An Interview with David Frayne’, Contrivers’ Review, 5th April http://www.contrivers.org/articles/25/Mergner-Frayne-Interview-Refusal-Work/
Frayne, D. (2016) ‘Will automation mark the end of our work-centred society?’, Guardian, 24th Feb
Frayne, D. (2016) ‘Towards a Post-Work Society’, ROAR Magazine, June 2016