Social Concertation in Times of Austerity: European Integration and the Politics of Labour Market Reforms in Austria and Switzerland (Changing Welfare States)

A term specifically found in European politics, social concertation refers to cooperation between trade unions, governments and employers in public policy-making. Social Concertation in Times of Austerity investigates the political underpinnings of social concertation in the context of European integration. Alexandre Afonso focuses on the regulation of labor mobility and unemployment protection in Austria and Switzerland, two of Europe’s most prosperous countries, and he looks at nonpartisan policymaking as a strategy for compromise. With this smart, new study, Afonso powerfully enters the debate on the need for a shared social agenda in post-crisis Western Europe. ** [C:\Users\Microsoft\Documents\Calibre Library] Why And When Do Governments Negotiate With Trade Unions And Employers About Labor Market Reforms? Drawing On Comparison Of Unemployment And Labour Migration Policy In Austria And Switzerland, This Book Shows That Governments Involve Organized Interests In Policy-making When They Are Faced With Party-political Divisions, Or When Policy Reforms Are Likely To Have Risky Electoral Consequences. 1. The Strange Survival Of Social Concertation In Times Of Austerity -- 2. Social Concertation As A Political Strategy -- 3. European Integration, Domestic Politics And Social Concertation -- 4. Methods And Cases -- 5. The Context Of Social Concertation In Switzerland And Austria -- 6. Social Concertation And Cross-border Labour Mobility -- 7. Social Concertation And Unemployment Policy Reforms -- 8. Synthesis And Comparative Outlook. Alexandre Afonso. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 223-251) And Index. Why do governments still negotiate with trade unions and employers in the design of labour market and welfare reforms despite the steady decline of trade union membership almost everywhere in Europe? Social Concertation in Times of Austerity investigates the political underpinnings of social concertation in the context of European integration. Alexandre Afonso focuses on the regulation of labor mobility and unemployment protection in Austria and Switzerland, two of Europe's most prosperous countries, and he looks at nonpartisan policymaking as a strategy for compromise. With this smart, new study, Afonso powerfully enters the debate on the need for a shared social agenda in post-crisis Western Europe -- Publisher's description A term specifically found in European politics, social concertation refers to cooperation between trade unions, governments and employers in public policy-making. Social Concertation in Times of Austerity investigates the political underpinnings of social concertation in the context of European integration. Alexandre Afonso focuses on the regulation of labor mobility and unemployment protection in Austria and Switzerland, two of Europe's most prosperous countries, and he looks at nonpartisan policymaking as a strategy for compromise. With this smart, new study, Afonso powerfully enters the debate on the need for a shared social agenda in post-crisis Western Europe. --Provided by publisher Why do governments still negotiate with trade unions and employers in the design of labour market and welfare reforms despite the steady decline of trade union membership almost everywhere in Europe? Social Concertation in Times of Austerity investigates the political underpinnings of social concertation in this new context with a focus on the regulation of labour mobility and unemployment protection in Austria and Switzerland. It shows that the involvement of organised interests in policymaking is a strategy of compromise-building used by governments when they are faced with party-political divisions, or when unpopular reforms are likely to have risky electoral consequences Waarom moeten overheden nog steeds onderhandelen met vakbonden en werkgevers, terwijl het ledenaantal van vakbonden bijna overal in Europa daalt? De auteur onderzoekt de politieke fundamenten van het sociaal overleg in deze nieuwe context. De focus ligt op de regulering van arbeidsmobiliteit en werkloosheidsuitkeringen in Oostenrijk en Zwitserland. Het werk laat zien dat overheden belangenorganisaties strategisch betrekken in de beleidsvorming, bijvoorbeeld wanneer een overheid geconfronteerd wordt met partijpolitieke verdeeldheid, of wan- neer impopulaire hervormingen negatieve electorale gevolgen kunnen hebben

A lively debate on the recently published American and Dutch translations of Dante's masterpiece.