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Radical Change and Institutional Resilience: The Case of Labour Market Reforms in Southern Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Ignacio à lvarez

    (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain)

  • Jesús Cruces

    (1st of May Foundation, Spain)

  • Francisco Trillo

    (Castilla-La Mancha University, Spain)

Abstract

Over the last decade southern European labour markets have been transformed in a common neoliberal direction, as a consequence of the reforms enacted after the 2008 financial crisis. In our research we investigate to what extent these labour market reforms, aimed at promoting a radical decentralisation of collective bargaining, have actually led to such change. For that purpose, we developed a comparative study of Spain and Portugal, using the notions of path dependency and socio-political coalitions developed by historical institutionalism. Our study leads to the conclusion that institutional trajectories resulting from these labour market reforms merge profound changes with significant resilience. The neoliberal transformations of southern European labour markets have not led to the emergence of new bargaining models, nor to an institutional convergence towards the decentralised collective bargaining systems of liberal market economies. Rather, these reforms have triggered a disorganised fragmentation of collective bargaining systems, resulting in a lack of institutional coherence.

Suggested Citation

  • Ignacio à lvarez & Jesús Cruces & Francisco Trillo, 2023. "Radical Change and Institutional Resilience: The Case of Labour Market Reforms in Southern Europe," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 37(6), pages 1517-1543, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:37:y:2023:i:6:p:1517-1543
    DOI: 10.1177/09500170221090166
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Valeria Cirillo & Marta Fana & Dario Guarascio, 2017. "Labour market reforms in Italy: evaluating the effects of the Jobs Act," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 34(2), pages 211-232, August.
    2. Paul Teague, 2009. "Path Dependency and Comparative Industrial Relations: The Case of Conflict Resolution Systems in Ireland and Sweden," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 47(3), pages 499-520, September.
    3. Andreas Kornelakis, 2014. "Liberalization, flexibility and industrial relations institutions: evidence from Italian and Greek banking," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 28(1), pages 40-57, February.
    4. Alexandre Afonso & Fabio Bulfone, 2019. "Electoral Coalitions and Policy Reversals in Portugal and Italy in the Aftermath of the Eurozone Crisis," South European Society and Politics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(2), pages 233-257, April.
    5. Kathleen Thelen, 2009. "Institutional Change in Advanced Political Economies," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 47(3), pages 471-498, September.
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