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Labour Market Dualism and Diversification in Japan

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  • Hiroaki Richard Watanabe

Abstract

The Japanese labour market has been regarded as ‘dualistic’ in terms of employment status (regular vs non‐regular). While it is true, this perspective misses recent changes in regular employment in terms of labour flexibility. The government has attempted labour market deregulation since the 1990s to increase the flexibility of not only non‐regular but also regular employment, and the labour market has become more diversified. Labour unions lack power resources to resist these neoliberal changes, however, because of their insufficient access to policy‐making, low union density and a lack of solidarity against the background of economic stagnation and competition under globalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiroaki Richard Watanabe, 2018. "Labour Market Dualism and Diversification in Japan," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(3), pages 579-602, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:56:y:2018:i:3:p:579-602
    DOI: 10.1111/bjir.12258
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Kyoji Fukao & Cristiano Perugini & Fabrizio Pompei, 2023. "Non‐standard Employment and Rent‐sharing," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(357), pages 178-211, January.
    3. LECHEVALIER, Sébastien & MOFAKHAMI, Malo, 2023. "Analyzing the diverse impact of digital use on the job quality : Comparing work organization and job satisfaction in Japan and France," Discussion Paper Series 740, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.

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