Review by Choice Review
This book ought to set the standard for future research on Latin American labor markets. The title accurately describes this short book's contents, but it does not suggest how carefully and interestingly Itzigsohn develops his arguments about the relationships among informal labor market, the global economy, and national governments' efforts to control and ameliorate the workings of national and labor markets, with particular attention to firms and workers in "informal economies." These are difficult and complex sets of relationships, and Itzigsohn navigates the maze of inconsistent definitions and conflicting hypotheses of the extensive literature with clarity, succinctness, and a refreshingly critical but judicious stance. For instance, Itzigsohn recognizes the implications of greater economic integration, but he avoids the usual hyperbole that leads to dismissing national governments (and politics) as important agents. The theoretical sections effectively set up the empirical studies. The selection of comparative case studies might at first seem a bit odd, but by the time one has finished the book, it is clear that they are excellent choices. Tables and outstanding bibliography. Very highly recommended for upper-division undergraduate through research collections. F. S. Weaver; Hampshire College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
