Employment

This chapter examines the stratification effects of social protection institutions on employment. The conventional approach, supported by current theories of welfare institutional development, is to assume that the structure of employment shapes social protection institutions. This makes sense when researching the origins of welfare institutions. However, once social protection institutions are in place, they exercise considerable influence on employment. The direction of causality is now from social protection to employment. The discussion in the chapter explores the stratification effects of social protection institutions on the structure of employment. The chapter discussed social protection contribution to three changes in employment in the region: tertiarisation, job polarisation and relocation, and participation in global production networks. Approaching the association between social protection and employment as a causal link brings new insights on social protection institutions in the region.