This book provides an overview of the institutional arrangements affecting labour market transitions through different working-time arrangements in seven European countries. It examines the extent to which social integration through transitional labour markets is possible, assesses the effects of labour market transitions, and prescribes improvements, with the aim of preventing the development of social exclusion from paid employment. The book concentrates on how working-time transitions are shaped by industrial relations, employment regulation and social policy systems. In particular it seeks to ascertain how institutional regulations may hinder or encourage the development of transitional labour markets in France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

The contributors to this volume also analyse the characteristics of employment regulation with regard to working-time flexibility and industrial relations in their national setting. They provide a review of current debates around this issue, and explore the role of recent reforms to social policy in facilitating or hindering labour market transitions.

Outlining the changes that have occurred in the regulatory institutional framework shaping working-time transitions in recent years, this book will be invaluable to academics with an interest in labour market policy. The book will also strongly appeal to labour market policymakers.