The conventional picture of industry and industrial relations in Japan is of a number of very large firms providing extremely attractive working conditions for their happy and contented workforce. Norma Chalmers shows that there is in fact another, very different side to the picture, which occurs in the the peripheral sector. Here, conditions are often poor, wages very low and continuity of employment virtually non-existent. There are many small firms where the effectiveness of worker organisation and bargaining declines as the firm's size and proximity to the industrial centre decrease. Moreover, as Chalmers shows, the peripheral sector is very large, and the conventional picture of the model workforce should probably be confined to a few flagship companies. The book argues that the model nature of the large firms may stem in part from the fact that they are able to off-load problems onto smaller firms who produce the components necessary for the large firm sector at disadvantageous subcontract terms.

Essays on labour relations in the private sector and public sector in Japan - includes a literature survey and discusses trends (1956- 1979), internal labour markets, wage structure, employment security and role of subcontracting, quality of working life, woman worker working conditions in small scale industries, trade unionism, trade union structure and financial aspects, dispute settlement, collective bargaining, and impact of top management; comments on labour legislation and jurisprudence. Diagrams, glossary, graphs and references.

Chinese and Japanese trade unions may seem emasculated and weak when compared with their Western counterparts in that they do not stand up to management to protect the interests of workers. The author's careful analysis probes the reasons for this difference, tearing down stereotypical notions about societies with a Confucian heritage, to examine the significant role of law in shaping industrial relations in modern China and Japan. Through a comparative analysis of their trade union laws, this work analyses the role of law in shaping postwar industrial relations in China and Japan and the interplay amongst such elements as the State or the Party, management, and workers. The work focuses on industrial relations in commercial and industrial enterprises, addressing such issues as the performance or nonperformance of trade unions in China and Japan and possible explanations, and the prospects and limitations of using codified laws to effect change or control in the postwar industrial settings of these two countries. The work's helpful features include a comparative approach, the use of case studies to maximize objectivity and insight, a unified and clearly expressed thesis and conclusions including a summary of findings, footnotes and cross references, an index, and concise explanations of the relevant legal provisions and the manner in which they have been applied.

Japanese Management and Labour in Transition explores the changing face of Japanese industrial relations. Part one of the work outlines recent trends in Japanese labour markets, labour law and corporate strategy, and explores the responses of both management and labour to pressure posed by these trends. Part two analyses the interaction between the state, management and labour, considering both the macro and the micro levels. This compilation of up-to-date research by leading Japanese scholars challenges the traditional view of 'lifetime' employment and focuses on the growing economic pressures that Japanese management and labour currently face.

`For years Jon Woronoff has been telling us that far from having devised some miraculous solution to the problems of capitalism, Japan remains vulnerable to crisis. For years he was either patronised or ignored by purveyors of the myth of the `Japanese miracle'. Now, however, the economic `bubble' has well and truly burst, the `miracle' looks more and more tarnished and Woronoff has the grim satisfaction of being able to say `I told you so.' - John Crump, University of York Even while Japan's supporters and apologists boasted of the 'miracle' economy, it was developing weaknesses and flaws which have undermined it. Growth is slowing, the labour force is aging and youngsters lack the old work ethic. Manufacturing is dwindling while inefficient services, distribution and agriculture fester. There are good companies, but many more mediocre ones, and even the best make slim profits. Meanwhile people are tired of long work hours and little leisure, high prices for virtually everything, inadequate housing, amenities and welfare, and a quality of life that is a poor reward for their sacrifices. This adds up to a crisis for many Japanese companies, individuals and society as a whole. It is a crisis that has been spreading rapidly since the collapse of the 'bubble' of the 1980s. And there is little hope that another 'miracle' can overcome the problems and put the economy back on track. More radical change is needed, the sort of change that is most unlikely to occur in Japan. This predicament is well known to the Japanese. But it is inadequately reflected in books for foreigners. That is why Jon Woronoff has written The Japanese Economic Crisis . Again he reveals the problems and failures, the facts and realities that others still miss but are indispensable if you want to understand the true situation.

This book will be of major interest to specialists in technical innovation and industrial relations.

This bibliography, first published in 1988, consists of annotated entries of monographs and journal articles published in English that discuss socio-economic aspects of Japanese society as well as the general and economic dynamics of United States-Japan trade relations. Emphasis is on the Japanese perspective.

Established as the standard reference for a worldwide readership of students, scholars and practitioners in international agencies, governments, companies and unions, this text offers a systematic overview of international employment relations. Chapters cover the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Japan, South Korea, China, India and South Africa. Experts examine the context of employment relations in each country: economic, historical, legal, social and political. They consider the roles of the major players and outline the various processes of employment relations, including collective bargaining and arbitration, consultation and employee involvement. The seventh edition has been thoroughly updated with new examples and discussion questions to engage students and encourage critical thinking. A revamped set of online resources includes PowerPoint slides for lecturers to use in their teaching, as well as useful web links to enhance learning.

This volume explains the salient features of the Japanese labour market. The key idea in this book is integrated segmentation. Emphasis is upon segmentation: on the demand side, within the educational system and, on supply side, monitoring costs which underlie labour contracts. Using long run official government statistical evidence, it is argued that what is peculiar to Japan is the integration of segmented labour markets. By virtue of segmentation the Japanese labour market is deeply competitive. By virtue of integration it is highly cooperative.

Hein (Japanese history, Northwestern U.) examines post-WWII economic development in Japan through the prism of the energy sector. Energy, always a key problem for Japan, is an appropriate angle from which to view the changing economy and the development of economic policy during the Occupation years and after. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR