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Northern European collective wage bargaining in the face of major political-economic challenges: common and differing trajectories

Author

Listed:
  • Paul Marginson

    (236371Industrial Relations Research Unit, University of Warwick, UK)

  • Jon Erik Dølvik

    (6284Fafo, Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

We address developments in collective wage bargaining arrangements in northern Europe in the light of two major political-economic challenges: EU eastern enlargement and the financial and economic crisis which broke in 2008. Through the lens of debates on convergence and divergence, we examine three dimensions of collective wage bargaining: coordination across sectors; articulation between different levels; and regulation of wage floors. We draw on findings from five countries and four sectors. Our analysis undermines the proposition that developments exhibit a common liberalising trajectory. It points to the differential impact of the two major political-economic challenges as between sectors, highlights similar and different policy responses by actors within a sector across countries, reveals differing consequences for governance of collective wage bargaining across sectors and countries, and finds no uniform trend in wage inequality outcomes. L’examen des accords issus de la négociation collective sur les salaires en Europe du Nord est replacé dans le contexte de deux défis politico-économiques majeurs: l’élargissement de l’UE à l’Est et la crise financière et économique qui a éclaté en 2008. La question de l’existence d’une convergence ou d’une divergence est abordée selon trois dimensions de la négociation collective des salaires: la coordination entre les secteurs, l’articulation entre les différents niveaux et la réglementation des planchers salariaux. Nous nous appuyons sur les résultats obtenus dans cinq pays et quatre secteurs. Notre analyse remet en question l’idée selon laquelle les évolutions présentent une trajectoire commune de libéralisation. Elle souligne la différence d’impact, entre les secteurs, des deux principaux défis politico-économiques évoqués et met en lumière les similarités et les différences dans les réponses politiques apportées par les acteurs d’un secteur dans les différents pays. L’analyse montre également les conséquences différentes pour la gouvernance des négociations collectives salariales entre les secteurs et les pays, et ne relève aucune tendance uniforme dans les résultats en matière d’inégalité salariale. Wir befassen uns im vorliegenden Artikel mit der Ausgestaltung von Tarifverhandlungen in Nordeuropa vor dem Hintergrund zweier wichtiger politisch-wirtschaftlicher Herausforderungen: der Osterweiterung der EU und der Finanz- und Wirtschaftskrise, die 2008 ihren Anfang nahm. Anhand der Debatten über Konvergenz und Divergenz untersuchen wir drei Dimensionen von Tarifverhandlungen: branchenübergreifende Koordinierung, Verständigung zwischen den unterschiedlichen Ebenen und Mindestlohnregelungen. Zu diesem Zweck haben wir Ergebnisse aus fünf Ländern und vier Sektoren ausgewertet. Unsere Analyse widerlegt die Annahme, dass alle Entwicklungen einem gemeinsamen Liberalisierungstrend folgen. Sie zeichnet die unterschiedlichen Auswirkungen der beiden großen politisch-wirtschaftlichen Herausforderungen in den einzelnen Sektoren nach; und beschreibt vergleichbare und unterschiedliche politische Antworten der Akteure eines Sektors in verschiedenen Ländern mit unterschiedlichen Folgen für die Gestaltung von Tarifverhandlungen in Sektoren und Ländern. Ein einheitlicher Trend bei der Entwicklung von Lohnungleichheiten ist nicht festzustellen.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Marginson & Jon Erik Dølvik, 2020. "Northern European collective wage bargaining in the face of major political-economic challenges: common and differing trajectories," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 26(4), pages 383-398, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:26:y:2020:i:4:p:383-398
    DOI: 10.1177/1024258920937961
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    References listed on IDEAS

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