This book introduces readers to the concept and theories of decent work and provides a framework for measuring it at the micro, meso and macro level in a given country. Further, it addresses the importance of measuring decent work in todays world and in connection with the different challenges countries face depending on their respective stage of development.

The essence of the book lies in highlighting the practical applications of decent work in terms of its ability to deliver empirical measurements of qualitative and subjective phenomena with a mixed-methods approach combining tools and techniques from economics and statistics. Moreover, as the applicability of decent work is not confined to the IT industry and formal sectors of the economy, the book also provides useful guidelines on how further empirical studies can be undertaken to measure decent work in non-IT industries. As such, the book offers a rich compilation of empirical and theoretical contributions ondecent work designed to not only enrich readers understanding, but also promote awareness of the practical relevance and technical aspects of the subject matter.

Nausheen Nizami is an Assistant Professsor of Economics in Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), India, prior to which, she was affiliated to the University of Delhi for about 5 years. She has a doctorate in Economics from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). She has earlier published a book on decent work and has also written units on Economic Reforms in India, Cluster Analysis, Foundations for Qualitative research for IGNOUs self-learning material for MA (Economics) programme and has also contributed to a research paper in the Indian Journal of Labour Economics (published by Springer). She has been invited as speaker in national conferences and has presented papers in various seminars held in Delhi. Labour economics, human development, econometrics and industrial economics are her areas of interest.

Narayan Prasad, Professor of Economics in School of Social Sciences of IGNOU, has been associated with the university since 1992. Apart from academic position as Professor of Economics, he has also contributed to IGNOU as Director, Research Unit and Director, Academic Coordination Division and Member Secretary of the Research Council. He has contributed more than 25 research papers in reputed national and international journals and has completed four research projects financially sponsored by UGC and ICSSR. He has authored three books, one of which is on decent work, co-authored by Nausheen, and published by SAGE Publications India. Another book titled Assessment of Human Well-being: A Multi-dimensional Approach in India is in process. He has designed and developed an innovative course on Research Methods in Economics for MA Economics Programme. He visited France under Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme for his post-doctoral work and also delivered several lectures at various places including New York, Washington and Los Angeles in USA. Currently, he is teaching research methodology and human development courses to MPhil and PhD students.

PART I. CONCEPT AND THEORY.- Chapter 1. Perspectives on Work.-Chapter 2. Concept and Theoretical Framework of Decent work.-Chapter 3. Decent Work agenda and ILO.-Chapter 4. Decent work, stages of development and Industry growth.- PART II MEASUREMENT, APPLICABILITY AND RELEVANCE. Chapter 5. Indicators of Decent work at Macro level.- Chapter 6. Indicators of Decent work at Meso Level and Micro Level.- Chapter 7. Country specific new Indicators of Decent Work - India.- Chapter 8. Challenges and Trade-offs in Decent work provision.- PART III EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF DECENT WORK.- SECTION A: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY.- Chapter 9. Global Information Economy and Information Technology.- Chapter 10. India IT Industry: Historical Review and recent trends.- Chapter 11. New Trends at the workplace.- Chapter 12. Economics of IT industry.- Chapter 13. Characteristics of IT Industrys labour market.- Chapter 14. Decent Ergonomics: Meaning and importance.- Chapter 15. Job- Hopping, On-the-job search, recruitment practices and Decent Work.- Chapter 16. IT industry: The Road Ahead.- SECTION B: EMPIRICAL REVIEW OF IT INDUSTRY.- Chapter 17. Recent Literature on IT industry and Measurement of Decent work.- PAR IV. TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF DECENT WORK.- SECTION A: MEASUREMENT OF DECENT WORK.- Chapter 18. Research Methodology and sample.- Chapter 19. Adequacy of earnings, productive employment and Decent work.- Chapter 20. Decent, Stable and Secure work: A myth or a reality in IT industry?.- Chapter 21. Is work in IT industry really flexible?.- Chapter 22. Decent work and safe work.- Chapter 23. Decent work and Work-life balance.- Chapter 24. Employment conditions, treatment to employees and Fair treatment for employees.- Chapter 25. Socialsecurity, dialogue and Decent work.- Chapter 26. Decent work and Complacent work.- Chapter 27. Composite Decent work Index at Micro level.- Chapter 28. Decent Work status at Meso level.- SECTION B: DECENT WORK: ANALYTICAL APPROACH.- Chapter 29. Chi-square Approach and Decent work categorisation.- Chapter 30. Correlational Analysis of Decent Work Indicators.- Chapter 31. Factor-Analysis and PCA Analysis of Decent Work Indicators.- Chapter 32. Multinomial Logistic Regression Approach.- PART V. METHODOLOGICAL PRESCRIPTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH.- Chapter 33. Discussion and Conclusion.- Chapter 34. Methodological Prescriptions for Future Research.