This book investigates the intersection of economic liberalization and the necessity for robust social security frameworks within the Indian labor market. The authors, Michelle Riboud, Nagesh Kumar, and Ramgopal Agarwala, utilize empirical labor market data and policy analysis to argue that economic reform must be accompanied by structural changes to safety nets. They provide a comprehensive framework for understanding how shifting employment patterns necessitate a re-evaluation of pension systems and old-age security, particularly for the vast unorganized sector of the Indian economy.

Experts recognize this work as a critical contribution to the discourse on Indian economic policy and social welfare. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which serves as a foundational resource for policymakers and researchers focusing on South Asian development economics.