TY - JOUR

T1 - The reform of the German Works Constitution Act

T2 - A critical assessment

AU - Addison, John T.

AU - Bellmann, Lutz

AU - Schnabel, Claus

AU - Wagner, Joachim

PY - 2004/4

Y1 - 2004/4

N2 - Since 1920, the thrust of German law on workplace codetermination has changed on a number of occasions. We describe the latest swing of the legislative pendulum—favoring works council formation and competence—and evaluate the case for it. We provide new information on the extent of works councils before reviewing the evidence on their economic effects, focusing on some new results from matched-plant data. If the former evidence points to a codetermination deficit, this shortfall does not appear to have negative consequences for workplace productivity, profitability, and employment.

AB - Since 1920, the thrust of German law on workplace codetermination has changed on a number of occasions. We describe the latest swing of the legislative pendulum—favoring works council formation and competence—and evaluate the case for it. We provide new information on the extent of works councils before reviewing the evidence on their economic effects, focusing on some new results from matched-plant data. If the former evidence points to a codetermination deficit, this shortfall does not appear to have negative consequences for workplace productivity, profitability, and employment.

KW - Economics

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=2642587128&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/1bba3b2d-18bb-3c21-85ec-26f39be1435c/

U2 - 10.1111/j.0019-8676.2004.00336.x

DO - 10.1111/j.0019-8676.2004.00336.x

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 43

SP - 392

EP - 420

JO - Industrial Relations

JF - Industrial Relations

SN - 0019-8676

IS - 2

ER -