The book examines skill systems and vocational training in a number of coordinated market economies, analysing historical origins and contemporary developments. As well as case studies on Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Denmark, it also contains comparative chapters exploring reactions to common challenges.

Interest in collective skill formation systems has been high for a long time, but recent structural economic and societal developments have led commentators to question their viability. In particular, the shift towards a knowledge economy creates a number of challenges for these highly praised systems of vocational training. These challenges relate to the growing importance of knowledge intensive production in advanced economies and with the accelerated pace of change due to innovation and globalization. What is more, these issues are compounded by coinciding developments in growing inequality and the emergence of multicultural societies. Can collective skill formation systems adapt fast enough to the needs of the knowledge economy? Can they continue to be as successful as they have been in the past in integrating youth in the labour market? Will employers be willing to participate in the delivery of vocational training in this new context? In this book, a world class team of leading experts on collective skill formation systems provide a thorough discussion of these and other questions raised by the shift to a knowledge economy. The book argues that collective skill formation systems remain attractive for firms and governments. However, continuous and profound adjustments will be needed if they are to fulfil their objectives in terms of equity and efficiency.

Book Review: "Collective skills systems have important economic, political and social consequences. This book will no doubt become a seminal contribution to our understanding of skill formation systems in co-ordinated market economies (CMEs). It is fair to say that the broad aim to 'explore the historical and political origins', as well as to 'explain institutional change in collective skill formation systems', has certainly been achieved if not exceeded (Busemeyer and Trampusch, pp. 4 and 34). In addition to creating a superior typology of skill regimes and investigating the origins of these systems, the findings of the book are certainly relevant for scholars of labour economics, education, varieties of capitalism and comparative political economy more generally. [...]"