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Cross-National Differences In The Trade Union Movement On The Basis Of Institutions

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  • Nora Ilona Elek

    (University of Debrecen Faculty of Economics and Business)

Abstract

This study deals with an issue of collective action theory. Its question is related to the activity of trade unions. According to the literature on collective action, large organisations, such as trade unions, have problems with organising themselves. The reason for this is social and economic incentives do not work in large groups, unless they consists of several smaller groups. The hypothesis of this paper is the relationship between confederations and their affiliates plays an important role in explaining cross-national differences in trade union movement and trade union activity. Based on a study a quantitative analysis was carried out in order to explore it. The obtained result is a small contribution to the empirical literature on trade unions. The methodology included a factor analysis and k-means clustering. Two out of the selected four variables describing the relationship between confederations and the member organisations fit into the factor structure. These variables did not form an independent dimension because they were linked to other variables but their factor loadings were large and they remained in one factor. So they were not separated from each other. Based on the cluster analysis it can be stated that the resulting factors are suitable for classifying the OECD countries. Three groups of countries were identified. The first group can be characterised by relatively small importance of trade union activity compared to the other two groups. Concertation at national level is important in the other two clusters but there is a difference in the institutionalisation. Social pacts have important role in the second group of countries. Finally, corporatist states constitute the third group in which the importance of confederations is the largest. The clusters created by the factors correspond roughly to trade union models in the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Nora Ilona Elek, 2017. "Cross-National Differences In The Trade Union Movement On The Basis Of Institutions," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(1), pages 133-141, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:ora:journl:v:1:y:2017:i:1:p:133-141
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Pecorino, 2015. "Olson’s Logic of Collective Action at fifty," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 243-262, March.
    2. Roger D. Congleton, 2015. "The Logic of Collective Action and Beyond," Working Papers 15-23, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    3. Lucio Baccaro, 2014. "Similar structures, different outcomes: corporatism's resilience and transformation (1974–2005)," Review of Keynesian Economics, Edward Elgar Publishing, vol. 2(2), pages 207-233, April.
    4. Roger Congleton, 2015. "The Logic of Collective Action and beyond," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 164(3), pages 217-234, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    trade unionism; labour institutions; federation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J52 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Dispute Resolution: Strikes, Arbitration, and Mediation
    • K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law

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