Globalisation And The Labour Market

The 2017 edition of the OECD Employment Outlook reviews recent labour market trends and short-term prospects in OECD countries.

Incorporating new empirical data and using a wide variety of methods such as econometrics, general equilibrium and case studies, this detailed volume provides a thorough investigation into the causes of the deterioration in the relative economic fortunes of less-skilled workers across various countries, with a focus on the role of globalization. It reveals how in the past thirty years, the decline in the wages and employment of less-skilled workers relative to skilled workers in Europe and North America has coincided with an acceleration in 'globalization'. The latter's rapid pace is indicated by the strong growth in both world trade and foreign direct investment which, in turn, have been stimulated by various factors such as reductions in trade barriers a drastic decline in the costs of communication and transportation and the internationalization of production. Although it is now widely held that the main cause of this rise in inequality seems to be a shift in demand towards higher skilled workers, this book aims to shed light on whether it is trade or technology that is primarily responsible for this demand shift. Importantly, the studies in this book describe how globalisation and technological change are interacting rather than separate forces. Topical and timely, this significant book will be a valuable read for academic researchers, analysts and professional economists in the policy making community.

Some of these papers were originally presented at an international conference on Globalization and the New Inequality at Utrecht University, The Netherlands; others were commissioned specifically for this book. Topics include surprising answers to frequently asked questions about globalization (the authors argue that social welfare policies can be followed and that world market forces are not beyond governance); the myth of trade union solidarity; the international restructuring of the media industries; the increasing importance of local labor relations; the impact of globalization on the potash industry; and Australia's historic industrial relations transition. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Although economists have long pointed to the aggregate gains from increased economic integration, the popular perception of globalization is much more pessimistic. Workers feel less secure in their jobs and fear wage losses and unemployment. This book explores these issues, and asks whether the concerns are warranted.

Active labor market policies (ALMPs) are found in almost all countries of the world but differ in amplitude, design, and implementation. Comprising an array of measures, ALMPs can take the form of special support for job searching, training and education for the unemployed, and various other subsidies and job creation activities. While providing a valuable overview of the nature of these policies, this book examines some of the pitfalls and challenges countries face when evaluating them. It also provides a policy framework for designing ALMPs that are permanent yet adaptable instruments to cope with changes linked to globalization. Contents Introduction Historical background of ALMPs Definition and functions of ALMPs Contribution of ALMPs to the objectives of employment creation, security in change, equity and poverty reduction Differences in the utilization of ALMPs: Developed, transition and developing countries Evaluation of ALMPs New trends in ALMPs Conclusions: A framework for the management of change Bibliography

It is often assumed that social movements, such as that of labour, will simply be overwhelmed by the changes brought about by globalisation. This volume points to this conclusion as at best premature and possibly also misguided.

This book explores the effects of product market and labour market reforms on firms, labour institutions and labour rights in the economic and industrial relations system in India. India has over the years liberalized its economy through a broad range of reforms concerning the product market and complementing these it has also sought to reform the labour market and the industrial relations system. The book assesses the impact of these reforms on both the formal and informal labour markets in India, critically examines the labour processes and uncovers/describes precarious conditions of labour in various industries and occupations, and analyzes the dynamics involved in the making of industrial, employment and labour policies in contemporary India.

Globalisation, Higher Education, the Labour Market and Inequality addresses the global transformation of higher education in relation to changes in the labour market. It focuses on the relative impact of elements of globalisation on social inequality, and provides insights into the ways in which these general forces of change are transformed into specific policies shaped by global forces and the various national values, institutional structures and politics of the specified societies. The book begins with a theoretical conceptualization for a comparative understanding of globalization, higher education, labour markets and inequality. This is followed by a range of mainstream accounts from an international selection of contributors of the ways in which national systems have responded to the forces of globalisation and the increasing demand for higher education graduates – in Australia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the UK. Finally, contributors explore more specific concerns such as the transition from higher education to the labour market in China and Sweden, the division of the ‘knowledge’ workers into traditional social groups in the US, and the role and salience of Doctoral programmes in South Africa in developing a knowledge economy. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Education and Work.