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Does Employee Representation Foster Workplace Democracy?

Author

Listed:
  • Uwe Jirjahn
  • Johannes Kiess

Abstract

From a theoretical viewpoint it is not clear whether or not works councils contribute to workplace democracy. This study is the first to provide systematic evidence that employees in establishments with a works council experience more democracy at work than the ones in establishments without a works councils. Employees' unionization plays an important moderating role in the link between works councils and workplace democracy. The influence of works council presence on experienced democracy at work is more pronounced and much stronger for union members than for nonmembers.

Suggested Citation

  • Uwe Jirjahn & Johannes Kiess, 2024. "Does Employee Representation Foster Workplace Democracy?," Research Papers in Economics 2024-13, University of Trier, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:trr:wpaper:202413
    as

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    File URL: https://www.uni-trier.de/fileadmin/fb4/prof/VWL/EWF/Research_Papers/2024-13.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Uwe JIRJAHN & Stephen C. SMITH, 2018. "Nonunion Employee Representation: Theory And The German Experience With Mandated Works Councils," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 89(1), pages 201-233, March.
    2. Uwe Jirjahn, 2017. "Works Councils and Collective Bargaining in Germany: A Simple Theoretical Extension to Reconcile Conflicting Empirical Findings," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 173(2), pages 322-346, June.
    3. Philip Taft, 1944. "Opposition to Union Officers in Elections," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 58(2), pages 246-264.
    4. Elia Pizzolitto & Ida Verna & Michelina Venditti, 2023. "Authoritarian leadership styles and performance: a systematic literature review and research agenda," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(2), pages 841-871, June.
    5. Uwe Jirjahn & Jens Mohrenweiser, 2016. "Owner-Managers and the Failure of Newly Adopted Works Councils," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 54(4), pages 815-845, December.
    6. Hyman, Richard, 1996. "Institutional transfer: industrial relations in Eastern Germany," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Economic Change and Employment FS I 96-305, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    7. Uwe Jirjahn & Jens Mohrenweiser & Uschi Backes‐Gellner, 2011. "Works Councils and Learning: On the Dynamic Dimension of Codetermination," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(3), pages 427-447, August.
    8. Fenet Jima Bedaso & Uwe Jirjahn, 2024. "Immigrants and trade union membership: Does integration into society and workplace play a moderating role?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 62(2), pages 262-292, June.
    9. Smith, Stephen C., 1991. "On the economic rationale for codetermination law," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 261-281, December.
    10. Lisa Schur, 2003. "Employment and the Creation of an Active Citizenry," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 41(4), pages 751-771, December.
    11. Lorenzo Cappellari & Stephen P. Jenkins, 2003. "Multivariate probit regression using simulated maximum likelihood," Stata Journal, StataCorp LLC, vol. 3(3), pages 278-294, September.
    12. Svejnar, Jan, 1982. "On the theory of a participatory firm," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 313-330, August.
    13. repec:bla:annpce:v:89:y:2018:i:1:p:201-233 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Freeman, Richard B, 1976. "Individual Mobility and Union Voice in the Labor Market," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 66(2), pages 361-368, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Works councils; unions; democratic experience at work; open organizational climate; self-efficacy; collective efficacy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J52 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Dispute Resolution: Strikes, Arbitration, and Mediation
    • J53 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Labor-Management Relations; Industrial Jurisprudence
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation

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