Yūji uncovers the background of "freeters" in the 1990s Japanese economy, young people who move from one part-time contract job to another while remaining economically dependent on their parents. Social stigma was unable to solve the problem despite Japan's confusion during this "lost decade." What Yūji finds is that a combination of the industrial inability to adjust employment despite a surface performance-based system and the lack of training opportunities led to this situation.

First published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Table of Contents List of illustrations List of contributors Acknowledgements Introduction 1 1 More pressure, less protection 8 2 Flexibility and the reorganisation of work 39 3 The prevalence and redistribution of job insecurity and work intensification 61 4 Disappearing pathways and the struggle for a fair day's pay 77 5 Job insecurity and work intensification: the effects on health and well-being 92 6 The intensification of everyday life 112 7 The organisational costs of job insecurity and work intensification 137 8 Stress intervention: what can managers do? 154 9 What can governments do? 172 Appendices 185 Notes 189 References 206 Index 222.

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