This book addresses themes related to the transition from childhood to adulthood. Entry into employment and other areas of social life that are symbolic of maturity and the attainment of full citizenship differs from society to society and is contingent upon appropriate political and economic factors. The volume draws upon a diversity of approaches and tries to reflect the experiences of different regions of the world, although there is still something of a Eurocentric bias. There are chapters that examine crucial aspects of youth and work in countries such as Malaysia and South Africa. The book is divided into four parts with 19 chapters. Part 1, "Political and Economic Contexts," contains: (1) "Education, Work and Global Economic Change" (Bruce Wilson; Roger Woock); (2)"Post-Fordist Possibilities: Education, Training and National Development" (Phillip Brown; Hugh Lauder); (3) "Education and Training in the New Europe: Economic and Political Contexts" (Martin Mclean); and (4) "Education, Work and the Restructuring of Central-Eastern and Eastern Europe" (J. J. Tomiak). Part 2, "Education, Training, and Labour Market Change," includes: (1) "Work, Labour Markets and Vocational Preparation: Anglo-German Comparisons of Training in Intermediate Skills" (David Marsden; Paul Ryan); (2) "Gender and the School-Work Transition in Canada and the USA" (Jane Gaskell); (3) "The Role of the State and the Social Partners in VET Systems" (Andy Green); (4) "Youth Training for a Changing Economy in Holland" (Eva Voncken; Jeroen Onstenk); and (5) "Educating and Training Youth for the World of Work in Malaysia and Singapore" (Elwyn Thomas). Part 3, "Curriculum and Qualification Reform in Post-Compulsory Education and Training," contains: (1) "Vocational Qualifications in Europe: The Emergence of Common Assessment" (Alison Wolf); (2) "Strategies for Reforming Post-Compulsory Education and Training in the Australian States" (Jack Keating); (3) "Education as a Foundation for Work? The Efficiency and Problems of the Japanese Upper-Secondary School" (Akio Inui; Tsuneo Hosogane); (4) "Human Resource Development in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Some Initial Observations" (Elaine Unterhalter; Michael Young); and (5) "From Education to Work: The Case of Technical Schools" (Gary McCulloch). Part 4, "Youth, Society and Citizenship," includes: (1) "Youth Transitions in the European Union" (Lynne Chisholm); (2) "Careers Guidance Systems in the European Community" (A. G. Watts); (3) "Risky Futures for the Daughters of the Nordic Welfare State" (Anja Heikkinen); (4) "Teacher-Student Estrangement and the Schooling of Urban Youth for Citizenship" (William B. Thomas; Kevin J. Moran); and (5) "The Integration of Young People into UK Society with Particular Reference to the Jewish Community" (Leslie Bash). A bibliography is included. (EH)