The Labour Markets of Emerging Economies: Has growth translated into more and better jobs?

This volume focuses on the labour market situation, trends and regulations in emerging economies, devoting attention to how they have dealt with both short-term issues, namely the global financial crisis, and longer-term structural challenges − as well as the gaps that still remain.

This volume focuses on the labour market situation, trends and regulations in emerging economies, devoting attention to how they have dealt with both short-term issues, namely the global financial crisis, and longer-term structural challenges − as well as the gaps that still remain.
The past few decades have witnessed the economic and geopolitical rise of a number of large middle-income countries around the world, which have to varying degrees embarked on a rapid path to economic development. Even during the recent global crisis, these “emerging economies” such as Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Turkey have been able to grow strongly, resulting in a decline in poverty. However, despite the economic progress made, improvements in the labour market have not been as impressive. Indeed, informality, working poverty and vulnerable employment, all different indicators of decent jobs deficits, continue to be the norm for most workers in these countries.

Part I of the volume provides a comparative perspective on labour market trends and the institutional and regulatory environment, referencing a range of countries including China and India. Part II includes in-depth case studies of Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey. Overall, the volume – which contains much new quantitative data as well as many lessons for policy-makers − shows that countries with effective policies and institutions in place are better equipped to tackle labour market challenges.


Co-published with Palgrave Macmillan as part of the Advances in Labour Studies series.