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Institutional Change in Shopfloor Governance and the Trajectory of Postwar Injury Rates in U.S. Manufacturing, 1946–1970

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  • David Fairris

Abstract

Manufacturing injury rates followed a U-shaped pattern over the 1946–70 period, falling for roughly the first fifteen years after World War II and then rising by an almost equal amount in the following decade. Rapid economic growth, changing demographics of the manufacturing labor force, and technological changes in production cannot account for the rising injury rates during the 1960s. Basing his analysis on a variety of sources, the author of this paper argues, instead, that the rise in injury rates reflects institutional changes in the system of shopfloor governance during the late 1950s that reduced the power of workers to influence shopfloor conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • David Fairris, 1998. "Institutional Change in Shopfloor Governance and the Trajectory of Postwar Injury Rates in U.S. Manufacturing, 1946–1970," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 51(2), pages 187-203, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:51:y:1998:i:2:p:187-203
    DOI: 10.1177/001979399805100202
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James Chelius, 1977. "Workplace Safety and Health: The Role of Workers’ Compensation," Books, American Enterprise Institute, number 925545, September.
    2. Fairris, David, 1995. "From Exit to Voice in Shopfloor Governance: The Case of Company Unions," Business History Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 69(4), pages 494-529, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maarten Dossche & Andrea Gavazzi & Vivien Lewis, 2023. "Labor Adjustment and Productivity in the OECD," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 47, pages 111-130, January.
    2. Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes & Cristina Borra, 2013. "On the differential impact of the recent economic downturn on work safety by nativity: the Spanish experience," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 2(1), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Gospel, Howard., 2003. "Quality of working life : a review on changes in work organization, conditions of employment and work-life arrangements," ILO Working Papers 993623463402676, International Labour Organization.
    4. Russell, Helen & Maitre, Bertrand & Watson, Dorothy, 2015. "Trends and Patterns in Occupational Health and Safety in Ireland," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS40, June.
    5. Maarten Dossche & Andrea Gavazzi & Vivien Lewis, 2023. "Labor Adjustment and Productivity in the OECD," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 47, pages 111-130, January.
    6. Lewis, Vivien & Villa, Stefania & Wolters, Maik H., 2019. "Labor productivity, effort and the euro area business cycle," Discussion Papers 44/2019, Deutsche Bundesbank.

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