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What Directions for Labor Market Institutions in Eastern and Central Europe?

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  • Richard B. Freeman

Abstract

In this paper I examine the evolution of labor relations institutions during the initial phase of marketization in Poland, Hungary. and Czechoslovakia and develop a model of changing support for reforms during the transition to a market economy. I find surprising stability in labor institutions in the first stage of transition to a market economy, but dramatic changes in labor outcomes. Successor unions to the official trade unions remained on the union scene. Central government taxed wage increases so enterprises would not give increases that matched or exceeded inflation and instituted tripartite forums to seek consensus on labor issues -- as they had done under reform communism. By contrast, labor market outcomes changed greatly. State-owned enterprises reduced employment even absent privatization, producing sizeable joblessness and eliminating massive vacancies. The dispersion of wages increased substantially in Hungary and Poland though not in Czechoslovakia. My model of changing support for reforms predicts a U-shaped curve of support for a successful reform program, with support falling among those who fail to advance rapidly in the new economic environment. Given this pattern, I assess how different labor arrangements are likely to affect workers' tolerance for the costs of transition; the ability of those who suffer in transition to undertake mass protests; and to provide information to governments to change marketization programs that are failing through "voice". While many labor relations experts favor tripartite agreements that create a social consensus during transition. my analysis suggests that the most likely labor relations outcome in Eastern European marketizing economies will be quite different: weak and fragmented unionism, concentrated in the public sector, and little or no unionism in the growing private sector, save in large joint ventures.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard B. Freeman, 1992. "What Directions for Labor Market Institutions in Eastern and Central Europe?," NBER Working Papers 4209, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
  • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:4209
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dewatripont, M & Roland, G, 1992. "The Virtues of Gradualism and Legitimacy in the Transition to a Market Economy," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 102(411), pages 291-300, March.
    2. Fernandez, Raquel & Rodrik, Dani, 1991. "Resistance to Reform: Status Quo Bias in the Presence of Individual-Specific Uncertainty," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 81(5), pages 1146-1155, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Köllő, János & Simonovits, András & Balla, Katalin, 2006. "Transzformációs sokk heterogén munkaerőpiacon [Transformation shock on a heterogeneous labour market]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(6), pages 485-508.
    2. Milan Vodopivec, 2004. "Income Support for the Unemployed : Issues and Options," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 14922.
    3. Carola M. Frege, 1996. "Union Membership in Post-Socialist East Germany: Who Participates in Collective Action?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 34(3), pages 387-413, September.
    4. Vodopivec, Milan & Raju, Dhushyanth, 2002. "Income support systems for the unemployed : issues and options," Social Protection Discussion Papers and Notes 25529, The World Bank.
    5. Elizabeth Brainerd, 2000. "Women in Transition: Changes in Gender Wage Differentials in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 54(1), pages 138-162, October.
    6. André Fourçans & Radu Vranceanu, 1996. "Chômage structurel et emploi dans les économies en transition," Revue Française d'Économie, Programme National Persée, vol. 11(2), pages 3-28.
    7. David G. Blanchflower & Richard B. Freeman, 1997. "The Attitudinal Legacy of Communist Labor Relations," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 50(3), pages 438-459, April.
    8. Micklewright, John, 1996. "Introduction," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(3), pages 229-231, October.
    9. Köllő, János, 2003. "Meddig tart a rendszerváltás?. Esettanulmány egy szövöde átalakulásáról, 1988-1996 [How long does the change of system take?. Case study of the transformation of a textile mill, 1988-1996]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(5), pages 406-427.
    10. Earnhart, Dietrich, 2000. "Environmental Crime and Punishment in the Czech Republic: Penalties against Firms and Employees," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 379-399, June.
    11. Iga Magda & David Marsden & Simone Moriconi, 2012. "Collective Agreements, Wages, and Firms' Cohorts: Evidence from Central Europe," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 65(3), pages 607-629, July.

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