Why is there resistance to works councils in Germany? An economic perspective

Arbeitspapier

Recent empirical research generally finds evidence of positive economic effects of works councils, for example with regard to productivity and - with some limitations - to profits. This makes it necessary to explain why employers' associations have reservations against works councils. On the basis of an in-depth literature analysis, we show that beyond the generally positive findings, there are important heterogeneities in the impact of works councils. We argue that those groups of employers that tend to benefit little from employee participation in terms of productivity and profits may well be important enough to shape the agenda of their employers' organisation and even gained in importance within their organisations in recent years. We also discuss the role of deviations from profit-maximising behaviour like risk aversion, short-term profit maximisation, and other non-pecuniary motives, as possible reasons for employer resistance.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Series: IWH Discussion Papers ; No. 23/2017

Klassifikation und Themen

• Klassifikation: Wirtschaft
• Thema: employers' association ; plant level employee participation ; works council

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Müller, Steffen ; Stegmaier, Jens
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wer): Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle (IWH)
• (wo): Halle (Saale)
• (wann): 2017

Weitere Informationen

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/171262
• URN: urn:nbn:de:gbv:3:2-81123
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 10.03.2025, 11:41 MEZ