Changes in Japanese Employment Practices: Beyond the Japanese Model

For many years Japanese employment practices were considered one of the cornerstones of its economic success, but the lack of economic growth and various structural developments have now renewed the debate on their efficiency and the need for change. This book examines changing employment practices in Japan, focusing on the position of the Japanese firm that is confronted with the need to address the changing economic circumstances while also maintaining some fit with the wider set of institutions that govern the Japanese labour market. It outlines the key developments of recent years, in particular the rise in non-regular employment and the rise in performance-related pay, and discusses the pressure being exerted on traditional employment practices, such as lifetime employment, which nonetheless has achieved and continues to receive wide social support. Throughout, the assessment of these issues is based on detailed empirical evidence of the changes in human resource management at various major firms, divided over several industries, illuminating not only the process of change but also providing an understanding of the complex decisions that firms are confronted with, the actual strategies deployed and the possible contribution of these practices to the competitive strength of the firm. Finally, it concludes by discussing the wider implications for the study of employment issues, demonstrating that Japanese developments continue to offer important insights for human resource management and labour market institutionalisation in general.Keizer, Arjan is the author of 'Changes in Japanese Employment Practices: Beyond the Japanese Model' with ISBN 9780415447584 and ISBN 0415447585.