Labor Markets in Asia Issues and Perspectives [Hardcover]

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.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

'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 Econl37