David is a sociologist taking a critical perspective on 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 with organisations such as Autonomy and Compass.
Research Interests
David’s research interests mainly focus on the future of work and welfare. Previous topics and current interests include:
- ‘Post-work’ theory
- The politics of automation
- Experiences of unemployment and precarious work
- Power and the 'therapeutic turn' in organisations
- The philosophy and implementation of basic income
- The philosophy and implementation of the shorter working week
- The organisation of care work
Research Projects
David currently works as an associate with the Digital Futures at Work Research Centre, where he is undertaking a project with Professor Brendan Burchell, exploring the impact of the Covid pandemic on how organisations think about working time.
Teaching
SOC 4: Concepts and Arguments in Sociology
Key Publications - Books
Frayne, D. (editor) (2019) The Work Cure: Critical essays on work and wellness. Monmouth: PCCS
Frayne, D. (2015) The Refusal of Work. London: Zed Books
Key Publications - Book Chapters
Elliott, E., Cohen, S and Frayne, D. (2020) 'The Role of Community Anchor Organisations in Regulating for Engagement’ in M. McDermont, T. Cole, J. Newman and A. Piccini (eds.) Imagining Regulation Differently: Co-Creating Regulation for Engagement. Bristol: Policy Press
Frayne, D. (2019) ‘Putting therapy to work’ in D. Frayne (ed.) The Work Cure: Critical Essays on Work and Wellness. Monmouth: PCCS
Frayne, D. (2019) ‘The employment dogma’ in D. Frayne (ed.) The Work Cure: Critical Essays on Work and Wellness. Monmouth: PCCS
Frayne, D. (2016) ‘Critiques of Work’ in S. Edgell, H. Gottfried and E. Granter (eds.) The SAGE Handbook of the Sociology of Work and Employment. London: SAGE
Key Publications - Journal 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
Frayne, D. (2019) Contribution to review symposium: ‘Undoing Work, Rethinking Community by James Chamberlain’, Critical Horizons
Frayne, D. (2016) ‘Stepping Outside the Circle: The Ecological Promise of Shorter Working Hours’, Green Letters: Studies in Ecocriticism. Vol.20 (2)
Key Publications - Other
Frayne, D. and Maher, M. (2021) Jobs and health: Re-opening the debate, Autonomy
Goodman, C., Muldoon, J., Frayne, D., Kellam, J., Standing, G. (2021) Piloting a basic income in Wales: Principles, precedents and feasibility, Autonomy
Frayne, D. and Stronge, W. (eds.) A future fit for Wales: A basic income for all (with Autonomy for the Wales Future Generations Commissioner, under embargo)
Frayne, D. and Stronge, W. (eds.) A future fit for Wales: Roadmap to a shorter working week (with Autonomy for the Wales Future Generations Commissioner, under embargo)
Frayne, D. (2019) Written contribution to ‘False Vacationers’ installation at the Estonian Contemporary Art Museum, Tallinn