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The Demise of a Model? The State of Collective Bargaining and Worker Representation in Germany

Author

Listed:
  • John T. Addison

    (Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, GEMF, and IZA)

  • Alex Bryson

    (National Institute of Economic and Social Research and CEP)

  • Paulino Teixeira

    (Faculdade de Economia/GEMF, University of Coimbra, and IZA)

  • André Pahnke

    (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Bundesagentur für Arbeit)

  • Lutz Bellmann

    (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Bundesagentur für Arbeit, and IZA)

Abstract

This paper investigates trends in collective bargaining and worker representation in the German private sector from 2000 to 2008. It seeks to update and widen earlier analyses pointing to a decline in collective bargaining, while providing more information on the dual system as a whole. Using data from the IAB Employment Panel and the German Employment Register, we report evidence of a systematic and continuing erosion of the dual system. Not unnaturally the decline is led by developments in western Germany. One conjecture is that the path of erosion will continue until rough and ready convergence is reached with eastern Germany in a sharp reversal of other post-unification trends.

Suggested Citation

  • John T. Addison & Alex Bryson & Paulino Teixeira & André Pahnke & Lutz Bellmann, 2011. "The Demise of a Model? The State of Collective Bargaining and Worker Representation in Germany," GEMF Working Papers 2011-09, GEMF, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra.
    • Handle: RePEc:gmf:wpaper:2011-09
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bellmann Lutz & Ellguth Peter, 2006. "Verbreitung von Betriebsräten und ihr Einfluss auf die betriebliche Weiterbildung / Works Council Presence and Impact on Training of the Workforce," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 226(5), pages 487-504, October.
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    4. Uwe Jirjahn, 2013. "Der Beitrag der Arbeitsmarktökonomik zur Erforschung von Gewerkschaften und Tarifvertragsbeziehungen in Deutschland," Research Papers in Economics 2013-03, University of Trier, Department of Economics.
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    22. John T. Addison & Arnd Kölling & Paulino Teixeira, 2014. "Changes in Bargaining Status and Intra-Plant Wage Dispersion in Germany. A Case of (Almost) Plus Ça Change?," GEMF Working Papers 2014-15, GEMF, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra.
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    25. Kohaut Susanne & Schnabel Claus, 2003. "Tarifverträge – nein danke!? Ausmaß und Einflussfaktoren der Tarifbindung west- und ostdeutscher Betriebe / Collective Agreements - No Thanks!? Extent and Determinants of Firms’ Bargaining Coverage in Western and Eastern Germany," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 223(3), pages 312-331, June.
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    30. repec:ilo:ilowps:433128 is not listed on IDEAS
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    32. Hübler Olaf, 2005. "Sind betriebliche Bündnisse für Arbeit erfolgreich? / Are ln-plant Alliances for Job Security Successful?," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 225(6), pages 630-652, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Genz, Sabrina & Bellmann, Lutz & Matthes, Britta, 2018. "Do German Works Councils Counter or Foster the Implementation of Digital Technologies?," IZA Discussion Papers 11616, IZA Network @ LISER.
    2. Schnabel, Claus, 2025. "Unions and employers' associations in Germany: a survey of their membership, density and bargaining coverage," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 59, pages 1-007.
    3. Rieder, André & Schnabel, Claus, 2025. "Beyond Collective Agreements: The Rise of the Wage Cushion in Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 18153, IZA Network @ LISER.
    4. Luu, Trong Tuan & Rowley, Chris & Vo, Thanh Thao, 2019. "Addressing employee diversity to foster their work engagement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 303-315.
    5. John Addison & Paulino Teixeira & Jens Stephani & Lutz Bellmann, 2012. "Can German Unions Still Cut It?," GEMF Working Papers 2012-19, GEMF, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra.
    6. Arnd Kölling & Claus Schnabel, 2022. "Owners, external managers and industrial relations in German establishments," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(2), pages 424-443, June.
    7. Clément Brébion, 2021. "The works council wage premium in Germany: a case of strategic discrimination?," Working Papers halshs-03100169, HAL.
    8. Addison, John T. & Teixeira, Paulino & Stephani, Jens & Bellmann, Lutz, 2014. "Union Decline and the Coverage Wage Gap in Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 8257, IZA Network @ LISER.
    9. Oberfichtner Michael & Schnabel Claus, 2019. "The German Model of Industrial Relations: (Where) Does It Still Exist?," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 239(1), pages 5-37, January.
    10. John Addison & Paulino Teixeira & Katalin Evers & Lutz Bellmann, 2014. "Indicative and Updated Estimates of the Collective Bargaining Premium in Germany," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(1), pages 125-156, January.
    11. Fackler, Daniel & Schnabel, Claus & Stegmaier, Jens, 2024. "Personnel adjustments during the Covid-19 pandemic: did co-determination make a difference?," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 58, pages 1-004.
    12. Wolfgang Günther & Martin Höpner, 2023. "Why does Germany abstain from statutory bargaining extensions? Explaining the exceptional German erosion of collective wage bargaining," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(1), pages 88-108, February.
    13. John T. Addison, 2025. "The Present and Future of Works Councils and Changes in Collective Bargaining in Germany," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 162-191, December.
    14. Verena Dill & Uwe Jirjahn, 2017. "Foreign owners and the quality of industrial relations in Germany," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 38(1), pages 5-25, February.
    15. Addison, John T. & Teixeira, Paulino & Evers, Katalin & Bellmann, Lutz, 2012. "Is the Erosion Thesis Overblown? Evidence from the Orientation of Uncovered Employers," IZA Discussion Papers 6658, IZA Network @ LISER.

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    JEL classification:

    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J53 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Labor-Management Relations; Industrial Jurisprudence

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