Studies the impact of flexible specialization on industrial competitiveness and working conditions in two industrial districts, i. e. the shoe industry in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and the autoparts production around the city of Campinas in the state of Sao Paulo. Investigates trends...

Based on data analysis and surveys of firms in four countries, focuses on wage fixing in the informal economy and the role of the minimum wage in informal wage determination. Includes also information on working hours in informal firms.