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<b>International Symposium on Risk, Social Stratification, and Changes
in Institutions</b>
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<td align="right"><b>Location:</b></td>
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<td>Risk, Social Stratification, and Changes in Institutions<br>
International symposium to be taken place at Bryn Mawr College on
February 3-4, 2011<br>
Abstract Submission deadline: October 20, 2010<br>
<p>
In the context of globalization advanced industrial societies have
become more diverse and their local institutions have adapted to the
changing environment. In this context, risk has increased, and it is
likely to have affected some segments of the population more than
others, such as non-regular workers, women, the elderly, immigrants,
and racial/ethnic minorities.<br>
</p>
<p>The long-term employment practice in Japan, for example, has
become
weaker because many of the firms with the practice can no longer
maintain it due to their increasing exposure to global competitions.
This deterioration of the practice has naturally led to the increase in
risk of the livelihood of workers. Workers who used to enjoy high job
security and decent income under this practice now face lower salaries
or even risk losing their jobs, as Japan’s labor market becomes more
fluid. Furthermore, the rapid increase in the share of non-regular
workers has made regular workers vulnerable to fall into the
non-regular work sector. Given substantive differences in income, job
security, and social security between regular and non-regular workers,
becoming a non-regular worker increases the risk of one’s livelihood,
especially if he/she is a single bread-winner.<br>
</p>
<p>However, the above-mentioned argument misses one important
aspect of
society—social stratification. While the long-term employment practice
has clearly deteriorated, it is less clear whether it has affected all
workers in the same way. Some studies report that workers at large
firms and in the public sector are still protected by the practice,
while workers at small and mid-sized firms have been hit particularly
hard by recent changes. <br>
</p>
<p>This symposium attempts to widen the scope to understand the
dynamic
interplay between institutional changes, risk re-allocation, and social
stratification in the age of globalization. <br>
</p>
<p>We are especially
interested in exploring the issue in comparative perspective.<br>
</p>
<p>To collectively address the issue, we propose to organize a
two-day
workshop at Bryn Mawr College on 3-4 February 2011 to discuss such
topics as risk of non-regular workers, minorities and immigrants, risk
and institutions, change in mobility regime, divorce, and risk and
social stratification. <br>
</p>
<p>With financial support from the Center for the
Study of Social Stratification and Inequality, Tohoku University, we
are able to cover the cost of transportation, accommodation, and meals
for 5-10 participants. <br>
</p>
<p>We will consider publication of submitted papers
in a special issue of an academic journal or an edited volume. One
purpose of the workshop is to discuss and improve papers that will have
been circulated beforehand.<br>
</p>
<p>If you are interested in participating, please send us (see
contact
information below) an abstract of about 300-400 words with contact
information and a brief CV by 20 October 2010. You will hear from us by
the beginning of November 2010. <br>
</p>
<p>Organizers: <br>
Yoshimichi Sato (CSSI, Tohoku University)<br>
Ayumi Takenaka (CSSI, Tohoku University and Department of Sociology,
Bryn Mawr College)<br>
Jun Imai (CSSI, Tohoku University)<br>
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Jun Imai
<br>
Center for the Study of Social Stratification and Inequality, Tohoku
University, Japan<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:jimai@sal.tohoku.ac.jp">jimai@sal.tohoku.ac.jp</a></td>
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