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Abstract:
This book seeks to gain a better understanding of the paradoxical relationship between the alleged need of European labour markets to become more flexible and the way in which national policies pursue this aim without jeopardising existing high standards of income and employment security. Special interest is devoted to the way in which countries opt for different policy routes to cope with the aim of balancing flexibility and security goals in their respective labour market and social protection policies. The contributions in this book all try to unveil the particular changes or transitions occurring in the various labour markets, to learn about their medium and longer term effects and the role of institutions and policies to cushion the adverse consequences of these changes. By studying some ‘best practices’ in Denmark, Canada and Australia they also draw some important lessons about the reasons why national policies might either fail or better cope with the challenges Europe face today.
Flexibility and Employment Security in Europe is a study rich in data that will appeal to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in economics, sociology and political science and in particular students of the labour market, social policy and European studies. It will also prove useful to policymakers at regional, national and European level seeking a greater understanding of the complex issues surrounding, and the relationship between labour market flexibility and standards of income and employment security.
Contents:
1. Flexibility and Employment Security in Europe: Setting the Scene - Ruud Muffels
2. There is More to Job Quality than ‘Precariousness’: A Comparative Epistemological Analysis of the ‘Flexibility and Security’ Debate in Europe - Jean-Claude Barbier
3. Transitions out of Temporary Jobs: Consequences for Employment and Poverty Across Europe - Annelies Debels
4. Dreaming of a Permanent Job: The Transitions of Temporary Workers in Italy and Spain - Virginia Hernanz, Federica Origo, Manuela Samek Lodovici and Luis Toharia
5. Mobility in the Labour Market: Analysing Career Paths Using Administrative Data - Mieke Booghmans, Seppe van Gils and Caroline Vermandere
6. Male Labour Market Mobility and Income and Employment Security in Europe - Ruud Muffels and Ruud Luijkx
7. Unemployment and Worker Career Prospects: A Cross-national Comparison - Markus Gangl
8. Self-employment Dynamics and ‘Transitional Labour Markets’: Some More UK Evidence - Nigel Meager
9. Part-time Work and Childbirth in Europe: Scarring the Career or Meeting Working-time Preferences? - Didier Fouarge and Ruud Muffels
10. Working Time Preferences, Labour Market Transitions and Job Satisfaction - Govert Bijwaard, Bram van Dijk and Jaap de Koning
11. Labour Market Transitions in Australia: Employment, Flexibility and Security in a Liberal Welfare Regime - Stephen Ziguras and Peter Stricker
12. From Unemployment to Employment Insurance: Towards Transitional Labour Markets in Canada? - Axel van den Berg, Claus-H. von Restorff, Daniel Parent and Anthony C. Masi
13. The Danish Road to ‘Flexicurity’ Where are we Compared to Others? And How did we Get There? - Per Kongshøj Madsen
14. Conclusion. Flexibility and Employment Security in Europe: A Siamese Twin? - Ruud Muffels
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