Privatization and Labor
Responses and Consequences in Global Perspective
Published on 28. May 2002
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-1-84064-435-7 (ISBN)
Description
During the last decade, privatization, understood here as the transfer of state-owned enterprises to the private sector, has become a widespread phenomenon among formerly socialist and mixed economies. It has been touted as a quick route to growth and prosperity in countries suffering from bloated, inefficient, and debt ridden public sectors. The contributors to this book, drawn from a number of social science disciplines, explore the various ways in which privatization programs affect workers in the reforming countries. The book includes an examination of how privatization impacts on labor economically, by changing the level and conditions of employment, as well as its influence on wages, benefits, and social services. A second section looks at the political effects of privatization on workers, focusing on the strength and militancy of trade unions and their relationship to political parties.
The essays, written by scholars as well as policy practitioners, cover both post-socialist countries, including Russia, China, and Eastern Europe, and the developing regions - the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Scholars and students in economics and political science as well as policymakers will find this collection a welcome addition to the literature on privatization.
The essays, written by scholars as well as policy practitioners, cover both post-socialist countries, including Russia, China, and Eastern Europe, and the developing regions - the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Scholars and students in economics and political science as well as policymakers will find this collection a welcome addition to the literature on privatization.
Reviews / Votes
'. . . this book makes a significant contribution to the debate about controversial privatisation issues and industrial policy responses to them. . . Privatization and Labor is an engaging and informative analysis of some of the most important and controversial privatisation issues, even when it is not completely persuasive.' -- Jung-Won Kim, Asia Pacific Business Review 'The book, which consists of very interesting research and experiences on privatisation and deregulation from different parts of the world, is, ultimately, an extremely useful handbook in studying the effects of the current economic hegemony.' -- M. Kemal oke, South-East Europe ReviewMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84064-435-7 (9781840644357)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by the late Marsha Pripstein Posusney, formerly Associate Professor of Political Science, Bryant College, US and Research Adjunct in International Relations, Brown University, US and Linda J. Cook, Professor of Political Science and Faculty Associate, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, US
Content
Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Unions in Transition: Why Organized Labor Embraced Economic Reform in Poland (1989-1999) 3. Egyptian Labor Struggles in the Era of Privatization: The Moral Economy Thesis Revisited 4. The Political Element in Economic Reform: Labor Institutions and Privatization Patterns in South Asia 5. Enterprise Reform and Labor in North Africa 6. Public Sector Downsizing: An Introduction 7. Privatization and Employment: Some General Issues 8. Ironies and Obstacles to China's Post-Socialist Housing Privatization 9. Provision of Social Benefits by Russian Enterprises: Managers' Behavior and Motivations 10. The Political Economy of Pension Reform: Poland and Hungary 11. Labor and the Politics of Human Capital Accumulation Index