Introduction

Taking a historical and sociological view, this book examines how work and labour insecurity have changed amid periods of strong economic growth. The issue is explored across three different contexts, spanning two different periods: the three-decade-long post-war boom in France and Japan and the period from the 1980s onwards in China. The introduction begins with an overview of the literature on production regimes and employment precarity. It then presents the comparative and interconnected approach. It concludes with an outline of the book.