Introduction

The paper introduces the special Dossier of the PJSS linked to a recently completed research programme named "Flexible wages for flexible contracts? The dynamics of the relationship between wage policy and employment contracts at the firm level" (FLEX, 2010–2013), funded by the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia). The programme involved a Portuguese and an Italian research team and explored the wage policy patterns of medium and large firms.