Labour Market and Social Protection Reforms in International Perspective

Hedva Sarfati is a political scientist and analyst of comparative employment, social protection and labour relations policies. She is former Director of ILO Industrial Relations and Labour Administration Department. She publishes regularly articles in industrial relations and human resources professional journals and is currently a member of the Editorial Board of the quarterly journal Industrial Relations (Laval University, Quebec). Giuliano Bonoli is a Lecturer at the Department of Social Work and Social Policy, University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He previously worked at the University of Bath. His research has centred on social protection reform and the modernisation process of western welfare states, on which he has published several articles and chapters in edited books.

• Contents: Introduction: Tight constraints, new demands and old needs: addressing the labour market versus social protection challenge, Hedva Sarfati and Giuliano Bonoli. The interaction Between Social Protection Reform and Labour Market Shifts: Key issues: Labour market and social protection policies: linkages and interactions, Hedva Sarfati; Different routes to improved employment in Europe, Jørgen Goul Andersen with Jan Bendix Jensen; Employment stability and flexibility in industralized countries: the resilience of the long duration employment relationship, Peter Auer and Sandrine Cazes; The individualization of rights in social protection systems, Maria Jepsen and Danièle Meulders; Employment standards and social protection standards: the impact of the diversified working arrangements (trends in Western Europe), Jacques Freyssinet; Gender and social protection reforms, Jay Ginn; The future of employment in Europe: elements for analysis drawn from the case of France, Hugues de Jouvenel and Alain Parant; Creating service jobs: lessons from extra-European experiences, Pascal Ughetto. Social Protection and Labour Market Trajectories in Selected Countries and World Regions: Social protection and labour market outcomes in Australia, Raymond Harbridge and Prue Bagley; Labour market reform in New Zealand, Ray Harbridge and Pat Walsh; The new Zealand reforms: outcomes and new directions, Anne de Bruin; Central and Eastern European countries - the transition from a planned to a market economy - what consequences for social security?, Henri Lourdelle; The Danish model of Flexicurity: a paradise - with some snakes, Per Kongshøj Madsen; Adjusting welfare policies to stimulate job entry: the example of the United Kingdom, Jane Millar; A critical view of the incentives to help benefit receipients into work in The Netherlands, Frans Pennings. Alternative Policy Mix Scenarios: Can social protection respond to the challenges of precarious jobs, better access to employmen

’This is a state of the art publication concerning the most pressing issue in today's social policy discourse: How to co-ordinate social protection and labour market policies. Unlike most anthologies, it is not merely a loose collection of articles but a carefully worked-through publication.’ Einar Overbye, NOVA Norwegian Social Research, Norway ’Sarfati and Bonoli have produced a timely and useful book, full of rewarding excursions into the complex issues surrounding modern efforts to design social policies that promote economic performance while maintaining a viable level of social protection. This volume is highly recommended for academics and policy makers concerned with the interaction of labour market needs and social protection reforms.’ Professor Neil Gilbert, University of California, USA ’The debate on unemployment has become increasingly complex in recent years. That complexity is reflected in the rich array of contributions to this book, focusing on the interaction between social protection and labour market performance and on different trajectories of policy reform. Policy makers and social actors will benefit greatly from its discussions of alternative and creative policy mixes...’ Martin Rhodes, European University Institute, Italy ’Anyone contributing to the sustainability of the European Social Model should start with reading this timely collection of comparative studies on the complex issue of social security in future labour markets. Prominent and dedicated European experts argue persuasively that employment and social protection systems can be mutually supportive.’ Gunther Schmid, Free University of Berlin and Social Science Centre, Germany ’The reader is initially struck by the richness of the information and analyses...This rich, synthetic book demonstrates with a steely criticism every aspect of the different thinkable strategies.’ Futuribles ’...a very good state-of-the-art description of the most pressing proble