Our hypotheses is that Portugal is being particularly
affected by the effects of neo-liberal convergence and is failing to respond to
internal and external challenges adequately (e.g. without aggravating citizens living
standards and risks of poverty and social exclusion) due, namely, to unresolved structural problems2
and the weaknesses of its institutions. These challenges represent severe
adjustment difficulties that are aggravated by a greater exposure to the intensification
of capital and goods’ flows and have major consequences for the employment
relationship and structure.