Labour Market and Social Protection Reforms in International Perspective

Introduction - tight constraints, new demands and old needs - addressing the labour market versus social protection challenge. Part 1 The interaction between social protection reform and labour market shifts - key issues: labour market versus social protection policies - what linkage?; different routes to improved employment in Europe; employment stability and flexibility in industrialized countries - the resilience of the long duration employment relationship; individualization of employment and social protection rights; the inter-relationship between employment and security standards - a reflection on the impact of the diversification of working time throughout working life; gender and social protection reforms; the future of employment - a prospective analysis of France and selected industrialized countries; creating service jobs - lessons from extra-European experiences. Part 2 Social protection and labour market trajectories in selected countries and world regions: social protection and labour market outcomes in Australia; labour market reform in New Zealand; the New Zealand reforms - outcomes and new directions; central and Eastern European countries - the transition from planned to a market economy - what consequences for social security?; the Danish model of flexicurity - a paradise with some snakes; adjusting welfare policies to stimulate job entry - the example of the UK; a critical view of the incentives to help benificiaries into work in The Netherlands. Part 3 alternative policy mix scenarios: can social protection respond to the challenges of precarious jobs, better access to employment and equitable and universal decent standard of living? lessons from the French experience; taxation and labour market entry; women and atypical working in the UK - the prospects for positive flexibility; does the future lie in working longer part-time?; older workers and active labour market policy in a full employment economy - the US case; pension at risk? demographic ageing, labour market and the funding of retirement; is there a future for the trade unions in the social protection reform?; negotiating pension reform with the unions - lessons from the Italian experience; providing security in a flexible economy? a new challenge for the welfare state; conclusions - the policy implications of a changing labour market-social protection relationship.