This paper argues that we have a theory--namely, opportunity structure theory--which can account for how school-to-work transitions were accomplished "then" and "now", and also why "now" is different from "then". Opportunity structures are formed primarily by the inter-relationships between family backgrounds, education, labour market processes…

This article arises from case studies in 2006 of 20 businesses in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), surveys of their up to 30-year-old employees (r = 419), follow-up interviews with eight of these employees, and matched samples in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). The main difference between education in Samarkand (and Uzbekistan in general) and…

Market reforms in former communist countries are supposed to have liberated individuals and enterprises alike. Post-industrial, globalised contexts are said to create greater risks and to require flexibility of businesses and employees, and that the latter are therefore required to become reflexive, proactive, and to take charge of their own…

Evidence from studies of Polish young people shows that graduates of professional and vocational secondary schools have not experienced as much unemployment because of the schools' flexibility and responsiveness to new labor market conditions. Among the reasons are schools' experience in informal deal making with employers under communism and…