Labor Markets in Asia: Issues and Perspectives

by Jesus Felipe, Rana Hasan

Overview

This volume argues that while labour market reforms may be necessary in some specific cases, by no means are labour market policies the main explanation for the widespread increase in unemployment and underemployment across Asia and country specific studies undermine the case for across-the-board labour market reforms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230007918
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	08/22/2006
Series:	Asian Development Bank Bks.
Edition description:	2006
Pages:	694
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.07(d)

About the Author

T. C. A. ANANT Department of Economics, University of Delhi, India
STEVEN KAPSOS Employment Trends Unit, Employment Strategy Department, International Labour Organization, Switzerland
LEONARDO LANZONA JR. Economics Department, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
CU CHI LOI Vietnam Institute of Economics, Vietnam
P. MOHAPATRA Department of History, University of Delhi, India
R. NAGARAJ Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, India
BINH T. NGUYEN Economics and Research Department, Asian Development Bank, Philippines
MAYLING OEY-GARDINER Insan Hitawasana Sejahtera, Indonesia
S. K. SASIKUMAR V.V. Giri National Labor Institute, India
GUNTUR SUGIYARTO Economics and Research Department, Asian Development Bank, Philippines
RAN TAO Institute for Chinese Studies, University of Oxford, UK, and Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, People's Republic of China
NGUYEN CHIEN THANG Vietnam Institute of Economics, Vietnam
NINASAPTI TRIASWATI Insan Hitawasana Sejahtera, Indonesia

Table of Contents

Introduction: Overview of the Chapters; J.Felipe & R.Hasan PART I: LABOR MARKET ISSUES Labor Market Outcomes in Asia; J.Felipe & R.Hasan Labor Markets in a Globalizing World; J.Felipe & R.Hasan The Employment Intensity of Growth: Trends and Macroeconomic Determinants; S.Kapsos PART II: COUNTRY SPECIFIC STUDIES Labor Markets in India: Issues and Perspectives; T.C.A.Anant, R.Hasan, P.Mohapatra, R.Nagaraj & S.K.Sasikumar Labor Markets in Indonesia: Key Challenges and Policy Issues; G.Sugiyarto, M.Oey-Gardiner & N.Triaswati Unemployment, Labor Laws and Economic Policies in the Philippines: A Stocktaking Review; J.Felipe & L.Lanzona Jr. The Labor Market in the People's Republic of China: Development and Policy Challenges in Economic Transition; R.Tao A Stocktaking Review of Vietnam's Labor Market; B.T.Nguyen, C.C.Loi & N.C.Thang PART III: POLICY ISSUES Policies to Achieve Full, Productive, and Decent Employment in Asia; J.Felipe & R.Hasan

Editorial Reviews

'At least one-third of Asia's labour force is unemployed or underemployed. A lack of employment is a major cause of poverty. If the Millennium Development Goals are to be met in Asia, there needs to be massive employment generation. The challenge is how? Felipe and Hasan set out the issues in stark form with a masterly theoretical survey of the functioning of labour markets in Asia, plus five detailed case studies of India, Indonesia, Philippines, China and Vietnam, highlighting the policy implications. This is undoubtedly one of the most important books written on growth, employment and poverty in Asia since Myrdal's classic, Asian Drama'. - Tony Thirlwall, Professor of Applied Economics, University of Kent, UK

'Even in a region known for its economic dynamism, creating full, productive, and decent employment is the biggest challenge facing Asia today. That is the convincing message of this authoritative book. Full of sound research, the volume debunks the widely held view that labour market rigidities are a major obstacle to employment creation. Instead, improving the incomes of the hundreds of millions of poor who work and creating more good jobs rely on the coordination of macroeconomic and social policies. It would be a welcome achievement if this book serves to put the employment challenge central to the policy agendas in Asia.' - Duncan Campbell, Director, Policy Integration Department, International Labour Organization

From the Publisher