Frances Cairncross

There's evidence that, especially in the new knowledge economy, traditional distinctions between home and the workplace are breaking down. But for many, flexible working can mean their work taking over more of their domestic and personal space. Is this a healthy reintegration of lives fractured by factory labour, or a new threat to family life?

A third of us make most of our friends at work now, and half of us meet our life partners at work... Work is becoming more of a community, which makes it more important and more enjoyable.

Richard Reeves of the Industrial Society

"Analysis", presented by Frances Cairncross of "The Economist", explores the extent to which work is taking over some of the qualities of home and the community. For many people, work is nicer than home: it is orderly, your role is clearly defined, there is companionship, and often many of life's disagreeable tasks (cleaning, arranging for repairs) are done by somebody else. It's long been established that women in particular enjoy going to work because they have status and authority that they don't necessarily have at home when dealing with children or partners.

In this new way of living, where work is really your religion, your total set of meanings, if you get fired from your job, you get fired from your life.

Arlie Hochschild, sociologist, University of Berkeley, California

But is the pendulum swinging too far towards the workplace? Does it mean that we should think differently about the work-life balance? And will it make a period of higher unemployment more painful than it might have been a generation or two ago?

Producer: Zareer Masani