Nevertheless, it is still fair to say that the model of work that dominated economic thinking throughout most of the twentieth century is giving way to a broader understanding. Work," perhaps especially in the decades after World War II, was understood primarily based on what we might call the industrial model. As an activity, work existed as a long-term relationship within a single firm. Employees received steady and stable employment, secure wages and benefits, and opportunities for promotion within the firm. Employers received the benefits of increased productivity created by a stable and competent work¬force. This model of work thus served the purposes of both employees and employers reasonably well.