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How Should We Think About Employers' Associations?

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  • Bryson, Alex

    (University College London)

  • Willman, Paul

    (London School of Economics)

Abstract

We maintain that employer associations are a specific form of employer collusion that is overt, formal and labour market focused which encompasses but is by no means confined to collective bargaining. We consider the conditions under which this form of collusion might emerge, and how it might develop. Since the context is the decline of employers’ associations in collective bargaining, we look at how collective bargaining involvement (and its disappearance) might relate to the growth or decline of other forms of collusion in areas such as product and financial markets, and political influence. Our central contention is that employers’ associations continue to perform an important role in helping employers set the terms of trade, albeit one that has adapted to the demise of sectoral bargaining.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryson, Alex & Willman, Paul, 2022. "How Should We Think About Employers' Associations?," IZA Discussion Papers 15467, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15467
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    employers’ associations; collective bargaining; collusion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General
    • J52 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Dispute Resolution: Strikes, Arbitration, and Mediation

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