ABSTRACT
Tight economic constraints, new demands and enduring needs are the factors that are framing the current process of the restructuring of labour markets and social protection systems. The three trends will most probably continue to affect the relationship between the labour market and social protection for the foreseeable future, contributing to a socioeconomic and political context aptly characterized as an era of permanent austerity. First, the development towards a post-industrial economy, characterized by the employment of the vast majority of the population in the services sector, has important implications for the functioning of labour markets and social protection systems. The second trend is the acceleration of economic internationalization, or globalization, which is resulting in the ever closer integration of financial and product markets worldwide. The third important trend, which is irreversible in the medium term at least, is the ageing of the population. This chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
