In this essay, I present the main features of the former German model of industrial relations first followed by an analysis of the problems of East Germany adopting it. I point out the main problems of the whole system nowadays in the united Germany and analyse to what extent they are influenced or even caused by the reunification after that.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The German model of industrial relations
- Industrial relations in East Germany after the reunification
- collective bargaining
- co-determination
- conclusions
- Problems and challenges of the system in the reunited Germany
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay investigates the influence of German reunification on the German model of industrial relations. It explores the challenges faced by East Germany in adopting this system, as well as the overall impact of reunification on the system's effectiveness in a united Germany.
- The German model of industrial relations and its key features
- Challenges of institutional transfer in East Germany
- The impact of reunification on collective bargaining in East Germany
- The role of co-determination in post-reunification East Germany
- Threats to the German model of industrial relations in a united Germany
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 2 introduces the German model of industrial relations, emphasizing its dual pillar structure of collective bargaining and co-determination. It highlights the success of this model during the post-war decades and the factors contributing to its effectiveness.
Chapter 3 focuses on the adoption of the German model of industrial relations in East Germany following reunification. It explores the challenges of institutional transfer, particularly the difficulties faced by collective bargaining and co-determination in the East German context. Chapter 3.1 specifically addresses the problems of collective bargaining in East Germany, including the collapse of the eastern economy and the complexities of wage equalization. Chapter 3.2 examines the challenges of implementing co-determination in the East, highlighting the initial difficulties in establishing and utilizing works councils in the context of economic hardship. Chapter 3.3 presents conclusions on the challenges of the "old" German model of industrial relations proving its functionality in the East, and its potential implications for the system in a united Germany.
Chapter 4 delves into the wider challenges faced by the German model of industrial relations in a united Germany, primarily the impact of globalization and the introduction of new production methods. It explores the potential for these factors to undermine the system of centralised collective bargaining and the function of works councils.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay examines the German model of industrial relations, including its key features, challenges in East Germany following reunification, and the impact of globalization on the system in a united Germany. Key topics include collective bargaining, co-determination, works councils, wage equalization, institutional transfer, economic restructuring, and the impact of new production methods on industrial relations.
- Quote paper
- Nils De Rop (Author), 2000, To what extent has reunification eroded the most important features of the German model of industrial relations?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/21486
