Why do voice regimes differ?
By: Alex Bryson, Rafael Gomez, P. Willman.
Contributors: Gomez, Rafael, 1972-; Willman, Paul.; London School of Economics and Political Science. Centre for Economic Performance.
Series: Discussion paper ;; no. 591; Discussion paper (London School of Economics and Political Science. Centre for Economic Performance : Online) ;; no. 591.
Publisher: Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics and Political Science
Published: 2003
Place of publication: [London]
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Industrial relations -- Great Britain.; Labor unions -- Great Britain.
Description: "In this paper we seek to explain the emergence of different voice regimes, and to do so by using approaches from institutional economics. In particular we analyse the emergence of different voice regimes as a contracting problem; a 'make' or 'buy' decision on the part of the employer. A unique feature of the model is that the firm, having chosen its particular employee management regime, faces switching costs if it attempts to alter its original make or buy decision. A particular dimension of the employee management regime decision is the use of the union as agent or supplier of voice, or elements thereof. We argue that there are circumstances in which the employer may, on grounds of cost or risk, seek to subcontract aspects of the management of labour to a union and, further, that this (along with the presence of switching costs) helps explain the continued recognition of trade unions in many firms. In other circumstances, however, the employer may seek to construct voice mechanisms without union involvement. Workplace data from Britain are used to test these and other implications of the model"--London School of Economics web site.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Title from summary page as viewed on 1/7/2005.
Also available in print.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.