Full-time, permanent employment has historically been the norm in the developed economies of the United States, Japan, and Europe. Yet in most of these countries, the fraction of workers engaged in nonstandard work (e.g., part-time, temporary, or contract positions) has increased in recent years, in some countries dramatically so.

This book reveals the considerable variation in the levels of growth in a broad set of nonstandard work arrangements while presenting a comprehensive view of how, as a result, the nature of the employment relationship is changing within and among countries.

The international roster of economists, sociologists, and labor law experts who contributed to this volume draw on cross-country variations in economic conditions and institutional characteristics to explain why some arrangements have grown faster in some countries than in others and what this means for workers. By considering a broad array of nonstandard work arrangements in a number of economies, the authors provide a richer understanding than if the focus had been limited to a single country of one or a short-list of employment arrangements.

Overall, this book will be useful for anyone seeking to gain a better understanding of the trends in nonstandard work arrangements including factors influencing their size and growth, their impact on women, and their implications for employees' job security, pay, and benefits.

The original versions of these papers were first presented at a conference sponsored by the Japan Foundation and the W.E. Upjohn Institute in August 2000.