In her recent survey, Frege (2002) concludes that economic analysis of the works council has reached a "dead end". The present treatment offers a different conclusion based on a more encompassing review of the evidence. It will identify three distinct phases in the economic analysis of codetermination at the workplace. While Frege just considered studies from the first two phases, it is the third phase of research that contains some of the most positive evaluations to date of works council impact...