Business and the development of job security regulations : The case of Germany
Journal
Socio-Economic Review
ISSN
1475-1461
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2011-10-01
Author(s)
Abstract
This article examines the role of business in the historical development of job security regulations in Germany from their creation in the inter-war period to the dawn of the crisis of the ‘German Model' in the 1990s. It contrasts a varieties of capitalism perspective, which views business as a protagonist, or at the very least a consenter, in the development of job security regulations, with a conflict-oriented perspective, which has the labour movement as the protagonist and business as an antagonist in the development of job security regulations. The empirical analysis is based on primary and secondary sources and shows that German employers have never favoured strict over flexible job security regulations. Quite the contrary, high levels of job security regulations were forced upon employers during periods of business weakness by a radicalized labour movement in the aftermath of both World Wars.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SEPS - Global Democratic Governance
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publisher place
Oxford
Volume
9
Number
4
Start page
729
End page
756
Pages
28
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
227276