Working papers

WP 2009.07

Wage policy in Austria and the Netherlands under EMU. A change in performance or the continuation of the status-quo?

By Alison Johnston

This paper analyses how wage policy in Austria and the Netherlands was affected by economic and monetary union (EMU). The paper concludes that EMU and the macroeconomic shifts resulting from it have had little influence on wage-setting in Austria and the Netherlands. While wage restraint outcomes did diverge for both countries after the start of EMU, this paper will argue that different wage institutions lead to this divergence. The EMU’s new macroeconomic order did not significantly change either countries microeconomic wage institutions.

WP 2009.06

Limits and potential of the use of vouchers for personal services An evaluation of titres-services in Belgium and the CESU in France

By Anna Maria Sansoni

This working paper presents how 'personal services' i.e. labour supplied within the home or the immediate environment of private individuals have developed in France and Belgium via a voucher system.The paper suggests large numbers of regular jobs have been created despite the fact that shorter working hours are a prevalent feature of these new jobs. In comparison with the actual creation of regular jobs, the quality of the jobs in question seems to be definitely more controversial.

WP 2009.05

A quantum of solace? An assessment of fiscal stimulus packages by EU Member States in response to the economic crisis

By Andrew Watt with the collaboration of Mariya Nikolova

This ETUI Working Paper analyses the fiscal stimulus packages implemented by EU Member States against the background of the on-going economic crisis. Alongside the overall volume of the packages, the study, which is based on a survey of national experts, considers their content and also the involvement – or lack of it – of the social partners and particularly trade unions.

WP 2009.04

European Works Councils: an assessment of their social welfare impact

By Sigurt Vitols

The working paper analyses the impact of EWCs on four different groups: shareholders, creditors, managers and employees. It argues that EWCs provide a net benefit. There are no significant negative impacts on shareholders and creditors while there are clear positive benefits for employees and managers.

WP 2009.03

Intra-EU labour migration: flows, effects and policy responses

By Béla Galgóczi, Janine Leschke and Andrew Watt

This ETUI working paper provides an overview of the debate on intra-EU labour migration. It outlines the different options open to and taken by member states regarding the issue of freedom of movement within the European Union. It also considers patterns and dimensions of labour migration after EU enlargement in 2004 and the associated effects in both sending and receiving countries and finally the policies adopted by different governments, trade unions and employers’ organisations.

WP 2009.02

Paradigm shift: social justice as a prerequisite for sustainable development

By Christophe Degryse and Philippe Pochet

The authors argue that a new paradigm is needed for European and national policies if the challenge of sustainable development is to be answered. It will not be sufficient to simply adjust policies to short-term considerations. Rather than solely relying on economic growth, it is by promoting social cohesion and protecting the environment that a sustainable society will be created. This will require a re-examination of modes of production, distribution, transport, consumption while integrating within it as a prerequisite the notion of social justice.

WP 2009.01

Plant-level responses to the economic crisis in Europe

By Vera Glassner and Béla Galgóczi
How are social policy actors in major sectors of the European economy responding to the current economic and financial crisis? This working paper summarises the plant-level responses of social policy actors to the symptoms of the current recession between October and mid January 2009. It examines how organised labour and capital responded to the crisis in key sectors and countries and what collective bargaining and labour market policy tools were available to deal with its effects and thus safeguard employment.

WP 2008.07

Job quality in Europe

By Janine Leschke and Andrew Watt
The ETUI has created a job quality index (JQI) in order to shed light on whether the goal of more jobs has been pursued at the cost of better jobs and how European countries compare with each other with regard to job quality. This Paper outlines some of the initial results of what will be a regular monitoring exercise.

WP 2008.06

Labour cooperation or labour conflict in the enlarged EU? Trade union responses to the rise of the automotive industry in Central-Eastern Europe

By Magdalena Bernaciak
This paper examines how Western and CEE trade unions are coping with intensifying cross-border competition. It asks what strategies they employ to increase or preserve employment levels and to improve working conditions in a transnationally competitive environment.

WP 2008.05

Wage differentials across sectors in Europe: an east-west comparison

By François Rycx, Ilan Tojerow and Daphné Valsamis
This working paper examines wage differentials across sectors in Eastern and Western European countries using harmonised data from the 2002 European structure of earnings survey.