We examine the relational model of inequality using samples of employer-employee matched data from manufacturing plants in the United States and Japan. We argue that gender is a salient status characteristic in both the United States and Japan, but because of differences in gender politics, wage inequality will vary more across U.S. workplaces…

Looks at the simultaneous labor force participation and hours of work decisions for Japanese wives, both employees and family workers. Although the estimated aggregate wage and income fluctuations for employees are somewhat higher than previous estimates for the United States, they are of the same order of magnitude. (JOW)

This article empirically examines the spread of higher education in Japan and the resulting changes in labor quality in the last two decades. This study uses the Divisia index numbers to measure the labor quality and quality-adjusted labor supply. It points out that quality might have declined rapidly in the recent past among higher educated…

Considers the variation in wage differentials by educational attainment level in Japan. Although Japanese wage structure is moving in a comparatively steady manner, the wage differential between college and junior college graduates among male workers has become wider since 1976. This phenomenon is explained mainly by changes in labor supply. (MLH)

This paper discusses recent histories of labor shortages in Singapore, Japan, and several western European countries. Emphasis is upon the economic effects of severe shortages of labor. Fearing that these shortages would seriously handicap further economic progress, many people in these countries have advocated large-scale immigration or increased…

Questions Japan's ability to maintain its economic success without substantially changing its approach to education. Discusses international responses to the nation's level of exports, the maturing and stabilization of its economy, and the rapid aging of its population and work force as trends that may require significant change. (BC)

This volume of an annual journal contains nine articles focusing on the internationalization of the world's economy and business and how employment security and employment and training programs can be involved. The opening article, "Foreign Investment Euphoria Hides Community Upheaval" (W. Scott Boyd), provides an overview of the volume…

This report, one of a series of country studies on higher education and employment particularly in the humanities and social sciences, looks at employment prospects for social science and humanities graduates in Australia. An opening section describes government studies and initiatives and changes in the Australian higher education system since…

This five-part report examines several aspects of science/engineering (S/E) education as it relates to S/E manpower. Part I discusses: pre-college science/mathematics curricula that have a bearing on future career decisions of students and that will subsequently affect the supply of scientific/technical manpower; the importance of…

In this article the reflections of the teachers and directors of Komatsudani Hoikuen ("day-care center") on a video the authors recently made at their preschool are used to explore processes of continuity and change in Japanese preschool education over the course of a generation. The social changes that are associated with changing…

This monograph outlines public policy responses to deal with the effects of forced worklife changes fashioned by government in the United States, Japan, and Western European countries. From the Morrill Act of 1862, through New Deal policy initiatives and on to the "active" manpower policies operating in Europe, the record of government…

Using retrospective data of young people's work experience in Japan, a study found that initial labor market conditions (i.e., when workers first enter the labor market after permanently leaving school) have a significant lasting impact on the employment experiences of workers in their teens and twenties. An increase in the unemployment rate at…